Research lead by University College Hospital in London and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has concluded that a shorter, cheaper MRI scan, requiring less clinical staff, is equally as accurate as the scan currently used by the NHS to detect prostate cancer.

The study was of 490 patients aged between 59 and 70 from 22 centres in 12 countries, all with clinical indications of prostate cancer. 

Each patient underwent both a 2-part MRI scan and the currently approved 3-part scan and the results were compared and verified against a biopsy. The 2-part scan discovered cancer in 29.2% of the patients, being almost identical to the 29.6% of the same patients using the 3-part scan.

Dr. Veeru Kasivisvanathan, associate professor at the University College London and chief investigator on the trial commented “If we can do the scan in up to half the time, with fewer staff and at lower cost, that will make a huge difference in allowing every man who needs a scan to be able to get one in a timely fashion.” A two-phase scan is estimated as being 47% cheaper than the current procedure in the UK.

Another trial is already happening in the UK and the results of the two trials together should provide the complete evidence package needed to change practice across the country.