Accuracy of a new echographic method (RULES, radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators) in prostate cancer diagnosis

This study evaluated the accuracy of a new echographic method named RULES (radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

A double-blind prospective study was carried out on 105 patients mean age 66.6 years, prostate specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/ml with clinical and/or biochemical suspicious of prostate cancer. Patients were submitted to transrectal prostate biopsy (8 to 12 cores) using a traditional echograph connected to a new hardware/ software platform named FEMMINA (fast echographic multiparameter multi image novel apparatus) that processes the echo signal by a RULES (radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators) algorithm. Histological findings were compared to B-mode and RULES modality.

Cancer was detected in 32/105 patients, of which 26/32 were determined as positive with the RULES method. RULES had better positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than B-mode.

Results obtained with RULES are encouraging and, if further confirmed, could help to reduce the number of unnecessary prostatic biopsies.