New tech targets prostate cancer

$10,000, will one day become part of the public health system.

‘‘The goal would be to have it filter into public health,’’ Russell said.

Studd said Bennett had made an excellent recovery, with no incontinence and minimal pain.

The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes under general anaesthetic. A needle is inserted via the perineum, rather than the rectum, which reduces the risk of post-procedure infection.

Following the biopsy, the patient can go home later that same day.

Bennett’s story highlighted the limitations of standard biopsy and the improved outcomes that could be achieved with the new technique, Studd said.

By blending MRI and ultrasound, via a rectal probe, the technique shows the suspected cancerous area. Once a potential tumour is identified, the fusion biopsy can be performed through the perineum, with significantly increased accuracy over a more traditional rectal biopsy.

About 3000 New Zealand men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, and 600 of them die.

Prostate cancer can be hard to detect, often involving extended and repeated biopsies that can lead to inflammation and infection, and they may not pick up cancerous tissue.

‘‘With fusion technology, we are less likely to find those very small, slow-growing cancers that are of such low threat that treatment is not required,’’ Studd said. ‘‘Conversely, we are more likely to detect the more active and threatening cancers that do need treatment.’’

The procedure effectively let doctors see cancers, lessening the ‘‘needle in a haystack’’ blind search that often characterises a traditional biopsy, he said.