The novel minimally invasive prostate biopsy treatment, which UC San Diego Health is the only health system in San Diego County to offer, lowers the risk of infection, increases imaging for precision, and might increase cancer detection in a clinic setting.
The treatment, known as a transperineal biopsy, uses 3D MRI fusion guided technology to highlight prostate cancer. It is the most recent addition to a long line of cutting-edge resources employed at UC San Diego Health to diagnose urological cancer.If a prostate-specific antigen blood test was elevated and/or a digital rectal exam was concerning, a transrectal biopsy used to be the usual procedure to test for prostate cancer.
A medical professional performs a transrectal biopsy by inserting the biopsy needle through the rectal lining and into the prostate. The perineum, a region of skin between the base of the scrotum and the rectum, is where a transperineal biopsy travels in order to avoid the rectum. This is significant because going through the rectum raises the danger of contaminating the prostate with bacteria and feces.
According to the American Urological Association, patients who undergo transrectal biopsies are given antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of infection, which is estimated to be between 1 and 2%. For transperineal biopsies, antibiotics are often not required or only occasionally used.Хowever, due to the almost negligible infection rate.
The 3D MRI fusion guided technique also improves the ability to detect probable prostate cancer.
Aditya Bagrodia, MD, associate professor of urology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and urologic oncologist at UC San Diego Health, said, “We are able to merge the MRI findings with the ultrasound imaging to give us a three-dimensional look at the prostate.” This increases imaging precision and enables us to target any worrisome areas, including locations that are challenging to access using transrectal techniques.
In the top 50 cancer programs in the US, according to the 2022–2023 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” study, UC San Diego Health is placed 20th.
