Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Performs First High Tech Prostate Imaging and Biopsy on East End

Southampton, New York — Stony Brook Southampton Hospital has a powerful new MR solution for targeted biopsy of the prostate. The UroNav fusion biopsy system offers patients with elevated and/or rising PSA levels a new biopsy option that provides more precision in identifying and targeting suspicious prostate lesions. This advanced technology is the first of its kind on the East End.

 “Targeted MRI/ultrasound biopsy is poised to become the new standard in prostate care,” said Dr. Robert Munkelwitz, Urologist, Meeting House Lane Medical Practice. “The process fuses pre-biopsy MR images of the prostate with ultrasound-guided biopsy images in real time, for excellent delineation of the prostate and suspicious lesions.”

“After a patient has undergone a prostate MRI, the radiology team utilizes DynaCAD for Prostate to quickly visualize and evaluate suspicious lesions,” said Dr. Steven Sobey, Urologist, Meeting House Lane Medical Practice. “The UroNav fusion biopsy system uses this critical diagnostic information to provide us with a targeted approach to prostate biopsy.”

“Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer has become the most common form of cancer for men in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer death in this population, said Dr. Richard Ashley, Urologist, Meeting House Lane Medical Practice, Stony Brook Medicine. “The fusion of MR and ultrasound images gives us the ability to offer our patients a more precise diagnosis after a prostate exam.”

The American Cancer Society reports 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Men at average risk of prostate cancer should consider having a screening starting at age 50. Men at higher than average risk should start at age 40 or 45. The symptoms of prostate cancer may not be apparent in the early stages and can be different for each man. As a result, routine screenings in the form of digital rectal exams and prostate exams and prostate-specific androgen (PSA) tests are important.