NICE Recommends Noninvasive MRI Screening for Prostate Cancer
Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2018
In draft guidelines currently being updated, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning should be offered as a first-line investigation for people with suspected clinically localized prostate cancer. This approach will not be replacing standard first-line tests such as the prostate-specific antigen test, and people who are not going to have radical treatment should not be routinely offered the scan.
For those who do have clinically significant prostate cancer, multiparametric MRI may help clinicians to understand the location of the cancer and to target the biopsy directly. Thus, this approach would reduce the need for further multiple biopsies and reduce the time taken to accurately identify the cancer.
Multiparametric MRI is clinically cost-effective, as it will reduce the number of biopsies performed. Additionally, cancers are more likely to be detected and identified earlier, therefore, reducing the need for further treatment.
“We are pleased to announce that we will be recommending multiparametric MRI for patients with prostate cancer. This diagnostic method aims to improve survival, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and benefit both patients and the [National Health Servce] in the long term,” said Paul Chrisp, Director for the Centre for Guidelines.
