Prostate cancer may be diagnosed without the need for an invasive biopsy, according to a new study.
Experts at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) say that, for some men, the disease could be detected using an MRI scan alone, potentially avoiding invasive procedures that can carry a significant risk of side effects.
Currently, men with suspected prostate cancer in NHS hospitals may either undergo an MRI scan, followed by a decision on whether a biopsy is necessary, or have a biopsy performed directly.
But a study of 880 men found that using MRI scans and blood tests, as well as getting an expert opinion, detected the disease 99 per cent of the time.
This is one of the reasons health officials have so far resisted introducing wider prostate cancer screening using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests. Men whose results suggest possible cancer have traditionally been referred for further investigation, often including an invasive biopsy.
However, the new study suggests that some men could potentially have prostate cancer diagnosed using an MRI scan alone, avoiding the need for a biopsy.
The findings could therefore renew calls for the introduction of a national prostate cancer screening programme.