Abington Hospital Now Offers MRI-Guided Imaging and Biopsy to Test for Suspected Prostate Cancer
Abington, PA (PRWEB) April 04, 2016 -- Abington Hospital - Jefferson Health now offers prostate MRI-Guided imaging and biopsy for diagnosing prostate cancer. This technology helps determine if a man with an elevated PSA requires biopsy or if a man who has prostate cancer can safely continue on a course of active surveillance.
“This technology helps target biopsies to the most worrisome areas of disease in the prostate,” said Radiation Oncologist Wayne H. Pinover, DO, co-director, Prostate Evaluation Program, Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health. The MRI-Guided biopsy matches the MRI images with ultrasound technology to provide precise images to guide physicians while performing biopsies.
The MRI system generates high resolution images of the prostate. Using these images, physicians are able to detect and evaluate suspicious prostate lesions using the software’s 3D rendering feature.
“This technology is used for men who have had negative biopsies and rising PSAs (prostate specific antigens),” said Urologist Joseph Izes, MD, co-director, Prostate Evaluation Program. “The MRI is an interim step to see if biopsy is absolutely necessary. Then, if we determine biopsy is required, we can be more precise when collecting tissue. This enhances the ability to detect high-grade and potentially life-threatening prostate cancer.”
The MRI-guided biopsy targets suspicious areas of concern. Images of suspicious prostate lesions identified in the pre-biopsy MRI are fused with real time ultrasound–guided images of the prostate, providing a clear view of suspicious lesions that can be targeted more accurately.
While not all men are candidates for this technology, MRI and fusion with prostate ultrasound images is the latest technology available for prostate biopsies. Prior to the development of MRI-Guided biopsy, for the last two decades trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) has been the standard of care.
Since this system utilizes MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), patients with metal implants, stents, artificial joints or pacemakers cannot be treated using this technology.
For more information, please contact Diane German, nurse navigator, Abington’s Prostate Evaluation Program, at 215-481-MALE.
About Abington – Jefferson Health
Abington – Jefferson Health encompasses Abington Hospital in Abington, Abington – Lansdale Hospital in Hatfield Township, two urgent Care Centers and five convenient outpatient facilities, which include Abington Health Center – Willow Grove, Abington Health Center – Warminster, Abington Health Center – Blue Bell, Abington Health Center – Lower Gwynedd and Abington Health Center – Montgomeryville. More than 1,400 physicians are on staff at both Abington Hospital and Abington – Lansdale Hospital. In addition, some physicians are members of Abington Health Physicians, an employed network of primary care physicians and specialists. Abington – Jefferson Health is part of Jefferson Health and Jefferson, a newly formed organization dedicated to providing the highest quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies that will define the future of health care.
Linda Millevoi, Abington - Jefferson Health, https://www.abingtonhealth.org/, +1 215-481-2300, [email protected]
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