India’s very first trans-perineal targeted biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis introduced

Investigative modalities can prove important in the detection of prostate cancer: Doctors

Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: Apollo Hospitals has been consistent in revolutionising India’s healthcare with the expertise of its doctors and cutting-edge infrastructure and technology.

Adding another feather to its cap of achievements, Apollo Hospital Seshadripuram brings in India’s very first prostate cancer diagnosis breakthrough; The MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy, a novel technology that enhances the accuracy of cancer detection by 97% which was impossible to achieve earlier with the conventional methods of diagnosis. This high-end early prostate cancer detection technology has a unique procedure that one undergoes.

The technology uses multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and contouring of the lesions which are suspected to be cancerous and the prostate size is marked via a special software pack. The image is then transferred to the special ultrasound done trans rectally. The ultrasound probes the longitudinal and cross-sectional images of the target lesions.

Keeping the target in situ, a small bore needle is passed perennially (the area between the scrotum and the anus) via a grid (brachytherapy) for a more accurate yield of tissue for examination.  In this method, one can do sector biopsies and saturation biopsies depending on the size of the prostate and in addition target biopsies to accurately diagnose the lesion with minimal sampling.

The procedure is conducted under local, regional or general anaesthesia. Surgeons require extensive training before performing this procedure as it requires immense technical skills and expertise.

Explaining the benefits of this latest technology, Dr Manohar T, Chief of Urology, Uro Oncology, Kidney Transplantation Laser, Laparoscopic, Transplant and robotic surgeon at Apollo Hospital Seshadripuram is the first doctor in the country to successfully conduct 42 procedures using MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy.

“Conventional technology that we had earlier was able to detect only 70% of prostate cancers, but with this new technology the cancer detection rate has increased to 99%. It is cost effective, which is 5 to 10% more than the conventional technology method. It is a pain free procedure and the disease can be detected at a very early stage with the 5 year survival chances by 99%.

On the contrary if the cancer is diagnosed at the third stage the 5 year survival drops by 30%”, he informed. Prostate cancer is the second most common and accounts for 7.1% of the total cancers in men and early diagnosis are critical in improving the outcomes.

Adding on to the above benefits, Dr. Manohar pointed out that the MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy method can access both the halves –upper and lower - of the prostate for targeting lesions and detecting if they are cancerous or not, unlike the procedure that is done trans-rectally which can cover only the lower half of the prostate. Also, this method can pick up cancers as small as 2mm, making the detection at the extremely initial stage of cancer a reality.

Doctors feel the investigation modality is very important and for this technology plays a crucial role. The cutting edge technology with precision together gives an edge over everything and helps serve patients better. Uday Davda, Unit Head at Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, is privileged to be a part of this ground-breaking breakthrough in early cancer detection.

“Very popularly known, any breakthrough or advancements in healthcare that comes to India, comes to Apollo first as we are known for it, we are the largest healthcare providers in the country today. It is not a treatment modality, it is a diagnostic modality. The non-availability and nonreachability of technology in rural areas have made early detection of such cancers difficult to detect at very early stages”, informed Uday.

However, early detection using supportive technology is a powerful tool and will help defeat the disease at stage one thereby increasing survival possibility.