(Heidelberg, 6th of may 2009) A group was founded in Heidelberg last week by well-known experts in urology and diagnostics with the aim of networking various specialist medical fields to develop new methods and exchange experiences in the field of prostate diagnostics without biopsies.
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor condition which starts in the glandular tissue of the prostate gland. In Germany almost 3% of men die from prostate cancer. Early detection of the tumor reduces the risk of it being fatal. For absolute certainty as to whether the prostate is cancerous, a biopsy is generally performed following blood tests and ultrasound diagnosis. In this biopsy, a sample of tissue is physically removed. This is considered a standard procedure, yet is not without controversy. It is often necessary to perform three or more punch biopsies, during each of which up to 30 samples are removed from the prostate, in order to correctly diagnose a prostatic carcinoma. "Bacterial infiltration into the bloodstream can occur here. This can in turn lead to life-threatening sepsis", warns urologist Dr. Joachim-Ernst Deuster from Heidelberg. "If a prostatic carcinoma is hit by the biopsy needle, there is a risk that tumor cells may escape. In addition, so-called cytokines can be released, which can stimulate growth and metastasis of the prostatic carcinoma." The urologist is head of the private Prostate Therapy Clinic and specializes in less invasive prostate treatments.
"Gentle, non-invasive prostate therapy also requires non-invasive diagnostics", explains Deuster, who sees a massive information deficit in the sector. Indeed, this was part of the motivation for founding the "Arbeitskreis biopsiefreie Diagnostik" group for promoting diagnoses without biopsies last week in Heidelberg, for which well-known experts from the fields of cellular diagnostics, molecular pathology and magnetic resonance spectroscopy came together from all over Germany. Together with experts in laboratory medicine, they discussed options as to how the risks associated with biopsies can be reduced - for example using entirely new and promising methods. These include real-time elastography of the prostate, the choline PET/CT (choline positron emission tomography / computer tomography) - a new, combined imaging approach in nuclear medicine - and MR spectroscopy.
"We want to offer experienced and actively practicing medical specialists an information forum", comments Dr. Joachim-Ernst Deuster, explaining one of his aims. "Urologists and specialists in both cell analysis and proven imaging processes such as computer tomography are keen to come together and form a close professional network to find ways of improving the accuracy when diagnosing prostatic carcinomas and also being able to rule out carcinomas", adds urologist Dr. Thomas Dill from Heidelberg. The most important aspect is to avoid biopsies wherever possible and therefore minimize the risk for patients.
The group is set to meet regularly in future and is open to specialists in all fields.