A groundbreaking new ultrasound scan, known as micro-ultrasound, has been found to be just as effective as traditional MRI scans in diagnosing prostate cancer. According to research led by the University of Toronto, this high-resolution technology can speed up diagnosis, reduce hospital visits, and free up MRI machines for other patients.
Currently, patients undergo both an MRI scan and biopsy, a process that often involves multiple hospital visits. However, micro-ultrasound, which provides images three times more detailed than standard ultrasound, has been shown to be quicker, cheaper, and safer than MRI scans.
A recent study involving 677 men from Canada, the US, and Europe found that biopsies taken using micro-ultrasound were just as effective in detecting prostate cancer as those taken with MRI. This is significant, as about 100,000 men in the UK undergo a prostate biopsy every year, with over 50,000 diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
The researchers believe that micro-ultrasound has the potential to revolutionize prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, offering a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to traditional MRI scans.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/23/prostate-cancer-diagnosed-faster-ultrasound-scan