Micro-ultrasound effectively diagnoses prostate cancer in one biopsy

A new type of ultrasound called micro-ultrasound (microUS) could change how doctors diagnose prostate cancer. A major trial found that this technology works as well as MRI scans but is cheaper and simpler to use. This means patients might be able to get tested and have a biopsy in one visit to the hospital. In the trial, 677 men received different types of biopsies at hospitals in Canada, the US, and Europe. Some men had MRI-guided biopsies, while others had microUS-guided biopsies or just microUS alone. The study confirmed that microUS was just as effective as MRI in detecting cancer. Lead researcher Professor Laurence Klotz from the University of Toronto believes this new method could have an impact similar to when MRI first became available. He highlighted that microUS does not have the downsides of MRI, such as high costs and limited access. Prostate cancer is a major health issue, with over 55,000 new cases diagnosed in England in 2023 alone. The results of this trial were shared recently at an important medical conference in Madrid and published in a leading medical journal. With this new ultrasound technology, doctors like urologists can quickly learn how to perform the procedure. This can help speed up the diagnosis process and free up resources for other medical uses.