Role of MRI-US Fusion Biopsy in Diagnosing Prostatic Cancer

Reaching a histologic diagnosis of prostatic cancer (CaP) is central to its treatment and outcome. Preoperative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsies miss 25-40% of higher grade CaP found in post prostatectomy specimen. MRI-US fusion biopsy technique is a technological advance with software based integration of prior MRI images and real time TRUS to improvise the prostatic biopsy yield. On combining systematic biopsies with targeted ones, along with MRI detected high risk CaP areas, 22% more low risk CaP were found. Hence, fusion biopsy leads to better detection of "clinically relevant" CaP. In certain groups of patients like elevated PSA with negative biopsies and those on active surveillance (AS), this fusion technique would make a difference in management.