Establishing MRI-guided prostate intervention at a UK Centre

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Radiology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers theoretical advantages for prostate interventions over traditional Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) guidance.
• Establishing advanced interventional MRI suites requires significant infrastructure and procedural planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the preliminary experience of establishing an MRI suite for targeted prostate biopsy and cryoablation in a UK centre.
• To detail the logistical considerations, infrastructure alterations, and procedural aspects involved.

Main Methods:

• Description of necessary infrastructure modifications and scanning sequence suggestions.
• Guidance on anaesthetic choices and practical procedural considerations for MRI-guided interventions.
• Exploration of technical aspects of MRI-guided prostate biopsy and cryoablation.

Main Results:

• Presentation of clinical indications, treatment rationale, and intervention strategies for initial patient series.
• Description of early clinical outcomes following MRI-guided prostate interventions.
• Documentation of complexities encountered and solutions implemented during suite establishment.

Conclusions:

• MRI-guided prostate intervention holds significant promise compared to traditional methods.
• This account highlights the practical challenges and successful strategies for implementing MRI-guided prostate interventions in a UK setting.
• Provides insights into establishing the UK's first MRI intervention suite and its early operational experience.