If your doctor suspects prostate cancer, a detailed and early diagnosis is important. MRI-ultrasound prostate fusion biopsy combines two types of images to get the clearest picture of the prostate.
These detailed images guide doctors to suspicious areas so they can biopsy them right away. Your biopsy is targeted — not random — so you get answers and treatment sooner.
Benefits of Fusion Prostate Biopsy
MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy combines highly detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images with an ultrasound. An MRI uses magnets to collect detailed pictures of the prostate without radiation. Ultrasound uses sound waves to take pictures of the prostate.
A fusion-guided prostate biopsy:
- Gives clear answers: With a prostate MRI biopsy, doctors can tell the difference between aggressive prostate cancers and slow-growing ones.
- Finds aggressive tumors: The test enhances a doctor's ability to spot prostate tumors that need treatment.
- Helps prevent unnecessary procedures: With this targeted biopsy method, you can avoid treatment for slow-growing prostate tumors or repeat prostate biopsies.
How Is an Ultrasound-MRI Fusion Prostate Biopsy Done?
A prostate fusion biopsy involves these steps:
- First, you receive a prostate MRI. The radiologist reviews the images for areas that are suspicious for prostate cancer.
- Next, doctors perform an ultrasound test. Your doctor provides local anesthesia for your comfort and inserts a small ultrasound probe into the rectum.
- The fusion biopsy technology combines your MRI images with the ultrasound image in real time. This fusion (blending) of images creates a clearer picture to pinpoint any suspicious areas in the prostate.
- Your doctor uses the ultrasound and prostate MRI images to collect the prostate biopsy (tissue sample) with a needle. Doctors send the tissue sample to our lab, where our lab specialists review and determine if it's cancerous. Only urologists with special training and knowledge of prostate cancer perform this procedure. Our doctors have this subspecialty expertise, so you can get clear answers and the most effective treatment options.
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