May 2014 - Sperling Prostate Center

MRI-Guided Biopsy Gets Prostate Cancer Detection up a Notch

Compared to the conventional biopsies done on prostate cancer patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) paired with prostate biopsy has enhanced cancer yield up to three times. This is a procedure available at our prostate cancer detection and treatment center, giving patients access to a powerful and precise method of detecting prostate cancer. Researchers have discovered keep reading

MRI vs. the Partin Tables

By: Dan Sperling, MD This year’s annual meeting of the American Urological Association (Orlando, FL) brought numerous papers and presentations on multiparametric MRI (3T mpMRI) of the prostate. I interpret this to mean that the value of radiologic imaging for the detection, diagnosis and guided treatment of prostate cancer has gained considerable—perhaps even definitive—recognition by keep reading

The Risks of TRUS Biopsy

By: Dan Sperling, MD I have to credit the content of this blog to a fellow blogger. He is the Sitemaster at The “New” Prostate Cancer Infolink[i], a site dedicated to informing prostate cancer patients about their disease and their options, as well as other facets of living with prostate cancer. Although the posting I’m keep reading

Does Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer Cause Rectal Cancer?

By: Dan Sperling, MD Perhaps because I am a radiologist, I have been asked by prostate cancer patients whose urologists are recommending proton beam or IMRT if radiation can cause rectal cancer. In a sense, this is a tricky question because there is a difference between “causality” and “correlation.” Radiation is everywhere around us. Here keep reading

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Prostate Cancer

By: Dan Sperling, MD Did you know that, according to one study, more than 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a health resource?[i] And the same study reports that many of them do not even tell their doctors. Men who take vitamins, minerals, herbs and other keep reading

The American Urological Association 2014 meeting

By: Dan Sperling, M.D. As I write this, I’m preparing to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). As a radiologist who specializes in detection, diagnosis and focal treatment of prostate cancer, my work and that of urologists overlaps considerably. I have previously written about my commitment to professional collaboration between medical specialties, keep reading

Focal Laser Ablation: Promising Treatment for Prostate Cancer

A new technique in prostate cancer treatment has recently been developed – the combination of focal laser ablation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This new treatment option promises to be a safe and effective method for treating prostate cancer and is offered at our prostate cancer treatment center. Detecting prostate cancer Being the second-leading cause keep reading

Making 3TmpMRI More Accessible

By: Dan Sperling, MD I recently spoke with a Florida patient whose healthcare coverage is through a PPO. Two years ago, the urologist he sees through his PPO performed a TRUS biopsy two years ago that found two small areas of early stage cancer. He chose to go on Active Surveillance, and monitor using PSA. keep reading

We’ve Come A Long Way

By: Dan Sperling, MD I was a bit shocked when I came across an older research study titled “Two Consecutive Sets of Transrectal Ultrasound [TRUS] Guided Sextant Biopsies of the Prostate for the Detection of Prostate Cancer.”[i] I could hardly believe my eyes—two consecutive TRUS biopsies? The study is from 1998, and it gave me keep reading

Focal Laser Ablation in Clinical Trials

By: Dan Sperling, MD Two well-respected clinical institutions, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), have been conducting clinical trials on Focal Laser Ablation (FLA). They are considered interventional trials, meaning that a treatment is under investigation. Here is a little description of what each center is doing: a) NCI, under keep reading

Month: May 2014