Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Localisation and Characterisation using Ultrasound

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a type of cancer with the highest incidence (19%) and the second mortality rate (8%) in western men. In 2018 in Europe, 140,000 male patients were newly diagnosed with PCa, and over 100,000 patients have died from prostate cancer. Numbers are rising due to the ageing EU population.

Current Diagnosis Procedures

The present medical diagnosis procedures are largely based on the execution of multi-biopsy procedure(s) on the patient. Each multi-biopsy procedure is:

• Invasive
• Painful for the patient
• Incurs significant risk (10%-20%) of adverse health events such as sepsis (8%)

Screening programs, comparable to breast cancer screening for women, are not possible based on biopsy.

Image-Based Diagnosis

In recent years, in a few EU countries, an image-based diagnosis method has been added to the PCa diagnosis pathway: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). A dedicated MRI imaging protocol offers an additional diagnostic tool for detecting and characterising PCa tumour growth.

Drawbacks of MRI Diagnosis

However, MRI-based PCa diagnosis has drawbacks:

1. Scarce patient access (no public healthcare coverage in multiple EU countries)
2. Long waiting times of 35 days median
3. Increased national healthcare costs
4. Dependent on the availability of highly trained radiologists

The gap between the need for image-based diagnosis and the availability is rapidly widening.

PCaVision Solution

PCaVision is a novel PCa imaging diagnostic method relying on modern ultrasound imaging equipment and advanced signal processing algorithms. Advantages include:

• Equipment costs 96% less
• No need for a specialised radiologist; the urologist performs the diagnosis

Hence, PCaVision makes broad-scale access for patients possible, improves PCa healthcare, and reduces national healthcare costs. With PCaVision, the gap can be closed for the benefit of all EU patients.

Project Outcome

The result of the Transition project is to complete, validate, and certify the PCaVision solution, enabling roll-out to 16 EU clinics for clinical long-term demonstration, facilitating future broad utilisation.