ARRS: Preoperative MRI aids in surgical planning of prostate cancer patients
Prior to a robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) for the treatment of prostate cancer, prostate MRI can help urologic surgeons spare the neurovascular bundle (NVB), according to research presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Timothy McClure, MD, of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and colleagues explained that RALP is an increasingly common treatment method for prostate cancer. “However it is limited by a lack of haptic feedback (loss of sense of touch), a component urologic surgeons use to evaluate the NVBs and determine if a nerve-sparing technique is possible,” stated McClure.
Seeking to spare the nerve bundle, which controls a man’s erectile function and continence, the authors investigated whether the use of MRI of the prostate could alter the surgical decision process of physicians. In the study performed at UCLA, 104 men with biopsy proven prostate cancer were included in the study. Each participant underwent preoperative MRI prior to RALP and McClure and colleagues said that of the 104 men, 29 had the nerve sparing technique changed due to MRI scanning.
For these patients in which the surgical plan was changed, the researchers noted that 49 percent underwent nerve sparing surgery and 40 percent had their plan changed to non-nerve sparing surgery.
“MRI before RALP appears to help surgeons make a more informed decision with regards to the aggressiveness of nerve sparing surgical technique without compromising the oncological outcome,” concluded McClure.
Timothy McClure, MD, of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and colleagues explained that RALP is an increasingly common treatment method for prostate cancer. “However it is limited by a lack of haptic feedback (loss of sense of touch), a component urologic surgeons use to evaluate the NVBs and determine if a nerve-sparing technique is possible,” stated McClure.
Seeking to spare the nerve bundle, which controls a man’s erectile function and continence, the authors investigated whether the use of MRI of the prostate could alter the surgical decision process of physicians. In the study performed at UCLA, 104 men with biopsy proven prostate cancer were included in the study. Each participant underwent preoperative MRI prior to RALP and McClure and colleagues said that of the 104 men, 29 had the nerve sparing technique changed due to MRI scanning.
For these patients in which the surgical plan was changed, the researchers noted that 49 percent underwent nerve sparing surgery and 40 percent had their plan changed to non-nerve sparing surgery.
“MRI before RALP appears to help surgeons make a more informed decision with regards to the aggressiveness of nerve sparing surgical technique without compromising the oncological outcome,” concluded McClure.