Refining and Redefining Prostate Biopsies in the Detection of Prostate Cancer with the BK Fusion system

Posted on 30 May 2019

Mediclinic Newcastle is now offering new hope for potential prostate cancer sufferers, through improved diagnostics, with the all new BK Fusion system.

Dr Mahesh K Dhanjee, Mediclinic Newcastle’s sole urologist, is excited to be the very first urologist in the country to be using the BK fusion technology on a daily basis. In a reflection of the trend towards this technology, the perineal approach has previously been performed by Dr Werner Botha and Dr Karlheinz Jehle, of Mediclinic Cape Town with the use of the Biojet Fusion platform.

In South Africa, along with many other countries worldwide, prostate cancer is the leading cancer amongst males. “Nearly one in five men will be diagnosed with the illness during their lifetime and, in South Africa, more than 4000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year,” explains Dr Dhanjee. “With virtually every case of prostate cancer being curable if diagnosed early, the need for accurate diagnosis is becoming ever more crucial.”

The BK Fusion system is a state-of-the-art, transperineal fusion biopsy system offering ultrasound imaging together with an MRI fusion biopsy system – all in one unit. This new technology has actually redfined the latest guidelines from the European Association of Urology (EAU).

The EAU suggests that every patient advised to undergo a prostate biopsy (because of an elevated PSA level or an abnormality upon a rectal examination), should undergo an MRI scan of the prostate first. The suspicious areas in the prostate are then identified by the urologist (and radiologist). During the prostate biopsy, the images from the MRI scan are fused with real-time images on the ultrasound, using special computer software. The suspicious areas are then targeted for accurate biopsies.

According to Dr Dhanjee, “Studies have shown that for men undergoing a biopsy for suspected prostate cancer the targeted MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy is more likely to detect high-risk prostate cancer compared to a standard ultrasound-guided biopsy. Also, while “standard” biopsies are performed through the rectum exposing the patient to potential post-biopsy infections and sepsis, the BK Fusion system biopsies are performed through the perineum, thereby decreasing the risk of post-biopsy infection and sepsis

“The BK fusion system has allowed some doctors to experience an increase in detection of prostate cancer from 39% to 59% – this is an increase of almost 50% in accurate diagnosis,” says Dr Dhanjee, “This has dramatic implications for early diagnosis and treatment.” In fact, at Mediclinic Newcastle, by using this new technology, the detection rate of prostate cancer is almost 80% in all patients undergoing a prostate biopsy.

But the question remains – how will this innovative technology benefit his patients? Dr Dhanjee believes that an MRI scan of the prostate prior to a prostate biopsy may firstly reduce the proportion of men having unnecessary biopsies. Secondly, the BK Fusion system improves the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer, and lastly improve the cost-effectiveness of the prostate cancer diagnostic and therapeutic pathway.

In conclusion, he sees the BK fusion system as an improved diagnostic modality, or tool, that will allow the patient to receive his diagnosis and feedback quickly and accurately, allowing the doctor to then jointly discuss and decide on the best treatment moving forward, if required.