Northside Hospital Cancer Institute offers new 3-D imaging to detect and biopsy prostate cancer
1/04/2017, Katherine Watson, Northside Hospital
Urologists at Northside Hospital are now using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound with computer-aided detection to produce real-time 3-D images of the prostate to see cancer earlier and better track its progression.
Artemis with ProFuse Bx is a 3-D ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy platform from Eigen. The technology allows doctors to see 3-D images of the prostate and guide the needle during biopsy, while mapping the precise location of the tumor (within a millimeter) so that they can return to it later for follow up. Northside is the first hospital in Metro Atlanta to acquire the Artemis system.
More cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed and treated at Northside Hospital than anywhere else in Georgia. The hospital offers a comprehensive prostate cancer treatment program, which includes screening and advanced diagnostic capabilities, leading-edge treatment and support.
Approximately 5,570 men in Georgia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Next to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men (1 in 7 men will get it). Early detection is key in successfully treating many cancers. However, prostate cancer can be slow growing and take years to develop. Men diagnosed with the disease usually have time to consider all available treatment options, gather additional opinions and, with the help of their doctor, decide on which option is best for them.
“Still, new methods are needed to help physicians improve disease staging, select the most appropriate treatment and provide the best long-term follow-up for patients,” said Dr. Mark Haber, urologist, Georgia Urology.
The most common tools historically used to evaluate prostate cancer tumors and growth include prostate ultrasound, MRI and biopsy. The problem with each of these is, when used separately, they have limitations. Ultrasound only provides two-dimensional images. MRI is a high-powered magnet, which prevents the use of needles during the procedure. Biopsy alone does not give doctors a full picture of the cancer, leaving doctors basically blind and at risk of having to stick the patient multiple times.
However, when these modalities are combined, the result is a more accurate diagnosis along with better information regarding the exact location and extent of the disease, providing information that helps doctors and patients both make a smart, individualized choice about prostate cancer management or treatment.
“MRI technology and specifically, fusion biopsy, provides a more personalized and tailored approach to local prostate cancer treatment options,” said Dr. Vahan Kassabian, urologist and medical director of Georgia Urology. “This allows us to minimize potential urinary and sexual side effects.”
Northside Hospital leads the way in groundbreaking procedures for better outcomes for patients with prostate cancer, offering a wide range of treatments – from the minimally invasive to the latest advances in robotic surgery.
Every case of prostate cancer is different and based on the patient’s age, stage of the disease and their doctor’s advice, treatment options will vary. Beginning at age 50, men at average risk (no family history) for developing prostate cancer should begin to discuss the pros and cons of screening with their doctor. Men at high risk for developing prostate cancer should begin discussing screening even sooner.
For more information about prostate cancer care at Northside Hospital, visit www.northside.com/prostatecancer.
About Northside Hospital (www.northside.com)
The Northside Hospital health care system is an 868-bed, not-for-profit health care provider with more than 150 locations across Georgia, including three acute care, state-of-the-art hospitals in Atlanta, Cherokee County and Forsyth County. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries, diagnoses and treats the most cancer cases in Georgia and performs the most robotic surgeries in Georgia. The only Georgia hospital on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers, Northside has more than 2,500 physicians and 15,000 employees who serve 2.5 million patient visits annually across a full range of medical services.