Novel biopsy technique for prostate cancer

Recently a more extensive biopsy detecting technique for prostate cancers has been found out by researchers. This is very effective than the traditional examination. In the traditional exam for prostate cancer, the doctor takes six tissue samples from the prostate gland.

At Ohio State University, researchers said that it is better to take more samples.

Dr.Robert Bahnson and his team, called this the extended sector biopsy.

They took 12 samples - six from the outer rim of the prostate and six more from the inside of the gland. They did this on a group of 74 men and found cancer in 40 of them. In ten, the cancer was found only in one or more of the six inner areas - and would have been missed if the conventional method was used.

Dr Bahnson routinely uses the extended biopsy now. An added bonus of this technique is that it saves certain patients from having to come back for a second biopsy - when the first is clear but cancer is still suspected.