Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer in men. The diagnosis is normally achieved by a systematic prostate biopsy; however, this is a randomized approach by which a substantial number of significant carcinomas go undetected. For this reason, in recent years imaging techniques have been continuously developed, which enable visualization and therefore targeted biopsies.
The use of systematic biopsies is a standard procedure for the detection of prostate cancer. The quality of biopsies can be increased if the prostate is examined for the presence of suspected cancerous alterations during the biopsy. This can be carried out using multiparametric transrectral ultrasound.
Multiparametric ultrasound within the framework of a targeted biopsy increases the detection rate of significant prostate carcinomas with a simultaneous decrease in detection of insignificant carcinomas; however, the diagnostic reliability and the evidence level of multiparametric transrectal ultrasound are not yet sufficiently high to be able to replace a systematic biopsy.
In the hands of a well-trained examiner multiparametric transrectal ultrasound represents a good method for detection of prostate carcinomas. With the progression in technical developments of ultrasound technology, the detection rate will presumably be further increased.
Der Radiologe. 2017 Jul 12 [Epub ahead of print]
F Steinkohl, A Luger, J Bektic, F Aigner
Universitätsklinik für Radiologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich. ., Universitätsklinik für Radiologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich., Universitätsklinik für Urologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich.