NICE recommends MRI for suspected prostate cancer to reduce biopsies

Men with suspected prostate cancer should be offered multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to reduce the number of invasive and unnecessary biopsies, says draft guidance from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.1 The technology produces a detailed image of the prostate that will help clinicians decide whether a biopsy or subsequent treatment is needed.

Many hospitals already offer mpMRI, but a freedom of information request carried out for the charity Prostate Cancer UK earlier this year found that only half of men with suspected prostate cancer were being offered the scan before biopsy.

Currently, men with suspected prostate cancer are offered a blood test to look for raised concentrations of prostate specific …