UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND RUTGERS NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL PARTNER TO BRING FIRST 3D ULTRASOUND-MRI FUSION TECHNOLOGY TO NEW JERSEY FOR PROSTATE BIOPSY PROCEDURE

Transperineal Biopsy of the Prostate with 3DFusion Technology Brings Advanced Imaging, Better Access to Tissue Samples and Decreased Risk of Infection to the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

As part of the continuing effort to bring the most advanced diagnostic procedures and technology to Essex County and the surrounding area, physicians at University Hospital (UH), New Jersey’s only public acute care hospital and the principal teaching hospital for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), have introduced the transperineal prostate biopsy procedure to its extensive list of innovative resources used for diagnosing cancer. UH is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer 3D ultrasound-MRI fusion technology from KOELIS^® for this procedure.

“University Hospital and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School are excited to bring this innovative approach to routine prostate biopsies to our patients. We know that men in Essex County experience one of the highest levels of prostate cancer as compared to the rest of the state.  If detected and addressed early, we also know that this condition is treatable,” said Mary K. E. Maples, Interim President and CEO of University Hospital. “As New Jersey’s public academic health center, we seek to bring exceptional care to every patient, every time, and are living that commitment by providing this state-of-the-art service, a first in New Jersey, to our community.”

A prostate cancer biopsy is a minor urologic procedure used to detect cancer. The procedure removes tiny pieces of tissue from the prostate gland which are examined under a microscope. A pathologist will examine the tissue samples for any cancer cells. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) are two tests used to screen for prostate cancer, and the decision to have a biopsy is based on the results of these tests. Doctors will also consider family history of prostate cancer, ethnicity, biopsy history and other health factors, but the prostate biopsy remains the gold standard for accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.

While prostate biopsies have traditionally been completed via the rectum, which has historically deterred some men from scheduling routine prostate exams, transperineal (TP) biopsy has gained popularity due to its superior ability to collect a better cross section of tissue samples with an inherently lower rate of infection following the procedure, while avoiding the rectum. The TP technique enables the physician to collect the tissue samples via the perineum, the skin area between the testicles and the rectum, and can be performed under general or local anesthesia. Tissue samples are taken systematically under ultrasound guidance, utilizing the MRI-based fusion technology to better target the prostate, and potential problem areas, for sample and analysis.

“With our transperineal approach to prostate biopsies, we add MRI-targeting to the procedure that has demonstrated positive contributions to overall cancer detection,” said Evan Kovac, MD, an Associate Professor and member of the Department of Surgery, Division of Urology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a member of the University Hospital Medical Staff. “We believe that this new transperineal, MRI-targeted approach will improve prostate cancer diagnosis for our patients, while reducing the chance of infection. With the new approach, we can actually improve the sampling at the front of the prostate, where traditional transrectal prostate biopsy has limited reach, therefore improving our access to a larger portion of the prostate.”

For this same-day procedure, University Hospital has also partnered with Perineologic®, makers of the PrecisionPoint™ device. Using PrecisionPoint™, the doctor will guide the biopsy needle through the perineum and into the prostate, collecting, on average, between 20 and 30 samples with just a single skin puncture. For patients, the procedure is quicker than traditional approaches, allows for more precise targeting of the prostate, offers the potential for less patient discomfort, and generally presents a lower risk of post-procedure infection and complications.

“When diagnosed with prostate cancer, African-American men tend to have more advanced disease and are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than other men, so early detection is key. With transperineal prostate biopsy technology, we now have another tool in the arsenal to identify prostate cancer when it is more treatable,” said Wadih Arap, MD, Ph.D., Director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey at University Hospital and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

For over a decade, KOELIS^® has been assisting urologists and radiologists from around the world in their routine clinical practice, providing the latest technology for a patient-focused solution against prostate cancer. The KOELIS Trinity^® System is the first 3D ultrasound image-based mapping device created to help clinicians optimize their biopsy testing and perform targeted transperineal MRI/US fusion guided biopsies under local or general anesthesia. KOELIS brings the new standard for accurate, effective and easy-to-perform transperineal prostate biopsies.

Perineologic®, a subsidiary of Corbin Clinical Resources, Inc., is a private, self-funded innovative medical device company focused on developing and delivering technology to improve the safety, precision, and efficiency of healthcare options primarily in the field of urology. The PrecisionPoint™ Transperineal Access System, developed by Perineologic®, is the only FDA cleared, CE marked, Class II medical device for performing free hand transperineal prostate cancer biopsies. It is designed to offer a safer, more precise approach to prostate biopsy in a reliable and repeatable procedure, as compared to the transrectal biopsy, the current standard of care. Research shows that the PrecisionPoint™ System offers about 30% better cancer detection rates and a nearly 0% infection rate when used to perform prostate biopsies. It also reduces the risk of potential complications such as bleeding and urinary retention.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 973-972-1745.