A new study has found that a faster MRI scan for diagnosing prostate cancer is just as accurate as the current standard but takes half the time and costs less. The scan, which lasts 15 to 20 minutes instead of 30 to 40, could save the NHS money and allow more men to be tested, researchers say.
The research, led by University College London (UCL), University College London Hospital (UCLH) and the University of Birmingham, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama). It compared a two-part MRI without a contrast dye to the standard three-part scan that includes a dye injection. The trial involved 555 patients aged 59 to 70 across 22 hospitals in 12 countries.
Results showed that 29% of patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer using the shorter scan, identical to the longer version. The two-part scan costs around £145, compared to £2,733 for the three-part scan in the NHS. Lead researcher Associate Professor Veeru Kasivisvanathan said: 'If we can do the scan in up to half the time, with fewer staff and at lower cost, that will make a huge difference.'
Dr Matthew Hobbs of Prostate Cancer UK called the findings 'a hugely important step' and urged the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to review guidelines. However, some experts cautioned that the definition of 'clinically significant' cancer used in the study may still lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
