Computer targeted Artemis/ Ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy
There are many ways to biopsy a prostate. Methods vary in accuracy and safety. Urologists in the past used to biopsy the prostate via the rectum (Transrectal biopsy), however this can lead to small but real risk of severe infection/sepsis. Dr Elmes routinely biopsies all his patients transperineally (or across the skin) which is much safer.
Transperineal prostate biopsy is a sterile procedure where the risk of infection is almost completely negated. The biopsy needle is passed through the perineum (the skin between the scrotum and anus) to reach the prostate. It is a superior procedure especially if you have a lesion in a particular region (anterior) of your prostate, or if you have a larger prostate.
Advantages of Transperineal Biopsy technique
Increased prostate coverage
Increased accuracy
Less chance of requiring a second biopsy
Less risk of serious infection (<0.5%)
Computer Targeted Ultrasound Fusion Prostate Biopsy - Artemis
The advent of MRI has improved detection rates as it allows Urologists to perform multiple biopsies in area of interest, however there is still a large element of guess work in lining up the MRI picture with the ultrasound biopsy picture. Prostate Clinic Australia has been instrumental in advancing the accuracy of detecting prostate cancer by pioneering the utilisation of the Artemis computer targeted biopsy machine. Computer targeting fuses the pre-operative MRI images with the intra-operative ultrasound image and effectively lines up precisely where biopsies should be taken, thus mitigating human error.
MRI-US targeted fusion
Allows diagnosis of serious tumors not found with conventional biopsy
Helps to avoid detection of insignificant tumors
Provides a method for repeat biopsy of specific tumor bearing sites for men in active surveillance; and
Creates an opportunity for study of focal therapy.
Targeted biopsies are several times more sensitive for detection of prostate cancer than non-targeted, systematic biopsies
The Artemis Device - Targeted Prostate Biopsy
Artemis is a device which allows biopsy site tracking with 3D ultrasound image and full colour model and fusion of real-time ultrasound with MRI.
Artemis semi-automatically computes gland volume and boundaries. This enhances tissue structure visualisation for improved planning and guidance.
Artemis provides several imaging enhancements to standard 2D ultrasound:
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Greatly increases the ability to examine the prostate for abnormalities or suspicious areas which may need sampling
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Advanced needle navigation and tracking
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Sophisticated recording of actual biopsy sites sampled; sites can be revisited at any time
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View and overlay previous prostate gland volumes and biopsy locations
Ultrasound guided prostate biopsy is a 20-minute day procedure that uses ultrasound to create a video image of the prostate gland. This image, along with prostate examination and your MRI enables Dr Elmes to target his biopsies precisely and maximise prostate cancer detection if present.
Click on the image to download the Medical Matters article on the Australian-First prostate biopsy technology known as the Artemis which is performed by Dr Elmes to help improve prostate cancer diagnosis.
