Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Or call 0345 90 80 161
23 January 2017 11:19
MRIs could avoid 27% of men having to undergo a biopsy
Thousands of men may be able to avoid undergoing a biopsy to detect prostate cancer, as research shows MRI scans could be used to detect aggressive forms of the disease.
A study of 570 men with suspected prostate cancer - those found to have elevated levels of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein in their blood or other symptoms - correctly identified 93% of aggressive cancers.
Comparatively, the commonly used biopsy only diagnosed around 50% of cases.
A biopsy collects a small tissue sample from the body for examination.
A report, now published in British medical journal The Lancet, estimates that 27% of men could avoid having to undergo the procedure.
Lead author Dr Hashim Ahmed, of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), says the random selection of tissue samples means the current biopsy test could be inaccurate and does not confirm the aggressiveness of a cancer.
It could also miss aggressive cancers that are actually there, Dr Ahmed claims.
"Because of this, some men with no cancer or harmless cancers are sometimes given the wrong diagnosis and are then treated even though this offers no survival benefit and can often cause side effects," he added.
"On top of these errors in diagnosis, the current biopsy test can cause side effects such as bleeding, pain and serious infections."
Sufferers of prostate cancer can take out specialised medical travel insurance when planning a holiday.
Huge leap forward
Prostate Cancer UK is now working with clinical experts and professional bodies to determine how a rollout of the MRI scan method can work.
Chief executive of the research organisation, Angela Culhane, praised the findings as a "huge leap forward".
She said: "The results from the (trial) make it clear that giving men with raised PSA an mpMRI scan before a biopsy can help increase the number of aggressive cancers detected whilst reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies for men."
"This is the biggest leap forward in prostate cancer diagnosis in decades with the potential to save many lives."
19 March 2019
Looking for adventure? Create your perfect Scandinavian weekend with these alternative city break ideas.
[more...]
Lower your blood pressure with these fresh, healthy foods you can add to your diet.
02 March 2019
A Flybe flight was forced to abort take-off due to the cabin filling with "smoke" while it was accelerating along the runway at Exeter Airport.
01 March 2019
Holidaymakers will soon be able to take advantage of the first direct flight from London to Scotland's Western Isles after Loganair announced three new routes.
28 February 2019
Over one in five women in the UK wrongly think a smear test can detect ovarian cancer, new research has revealed.
27 February 2019
One in 10 UK adults over the age of 40 is living with Type 2 diabetes, new analysis suggests - but the real figure could be much higher.
26 February 2019
British Airways has revealed the second of its series of retro liveries being recreated as part of the airline's 100th birthday celebrations.
23 February 2019
The price of a prescription in England is set to rise again, the Government has announced, in a move some campaigners have called disappointing.
22 February 2019
Just half an hour of exercise every morning could be as effective as drugs at lowering daily blood pressure, research suggests.
21 February 2019
A British man accidentally used the wrong passport to fly from Prague to the UK, leaving his friend stranded in the Czech capital.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.