Back in May, I posted an article on our website about Haralick texture analysis as an amplification of prostate cancer features on multiparametric MRI. On July 28, a journal article on which I based the piece I posted was picked up by a medical news service, so I thought it was worth bringing attention to it again. I don’t want to get technical in this blog, so if you’re interested in details you can read the article at https://sperlingprostatecenter.com/new-imaging-technique-for-more-accurate-tumor-identification/
Imaging is evolving and improving all the time. At our Center, we are proud that both our powerful T3 magnet as well as our advanced software offer state-of-the-art capabilities for prostate imaging. We do not need to use an endorectal coil, which can be very uncomfortable for the patient and can even distort the gland shape because of the pressure through the rectal wall. We bring years of experience to interpreting the images, and we are able to confer with Dutch experts if, as sometimes happens, an image has ambiguous features.
Even though Haralick imaging is not yet built in to 3T mpMRI, I believe it soon will be. It shows great promise in improving features that might otherwise contribute to ambiguity. In particular, the study I cite in the article (Wibmer et al., 2015) is noteworthy. It validated the performance of Haralick imaging, including its ability to differentiate among Gleason scores, by comparing the MRI results with actual post-prostatectomy specimens from patients who underwent scanning before surgery.
It is exciting to witness advances in imaging, and to be poised to incorporate them as they become available. Our commitment to offering the best possible prostate cancer mpMRI detection keeps all of us here focused on the latest developments. We are proud of our ongoing learning in the field, and happy to be able to pass the benefits along to our patients.
NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.
About Dr. Dan Sperling
Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.
