![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/hopes-that-mri-scans-can-screen-men-for-prostate-cancer/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/122498358_gettyimages-485382358.jpg&description=Image source, Getty Images A 10-minute MRI scan could be used to screen men for prostate cancer, according to a new study. The scans proved far more accurate at diagnosing cancer than blood tests, which look for high levels of a protein called PSA. MRI picked up some serious cancers that would have been missed by PSA alone. At present there is no national screening programme because PSA is considered too unreliable, although men over 50 can request a PSA test. The authors of this new study suggest that prostate MRI could be used for screening, though they say a larger study would be needed to assess this. Part of the male reproductive system, the prostate gland, about the size of a walnut, is in the pelvis, below the bladder It surrounds the urethra - the tube that takes urine out of the body through the penis Cancer is abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth But in the prostate, it usually develops slowly There may be no signs or symptoms for years And some never develop any problems from it But in others, the cancer can be aggressive and deadly Early diagnosis and treatment is key For the Reimagine study, which is published in , men aged 50 to 75 in London were invited for screening MRI and PSA tests, which were carried out at University College Hospital. Of the 303 who had both tests, 48 had a positive MRI that indicated cancer and of these 25 were diagnosed with significant cancer after further tests, including biopsies. More than half the men whose cancer was picked up on MRI had low PSA test scores below 3ng/ml, which is considered normal, and so would have been falsely reassured they were free of disease. Prof Caroline Moore, consultant urologist UCLH and chief investigator of the study at University College London, said: "Our results give an early indication that MRI could offer a more reliable method of detecting potentially serious cancers early, with the added benefit that less than 1% of participants were 'over-diagnosed' with low-risk disease." Image capt){kind=link}
A 10-minute MRI scan could be used to screen men for prostate cancer, according to a new study.
The scans proved far more accurate at diagnosing cancer than blood tests, which look for high levels of a protein called PSA.
MRI picked up some serious cancers that would have been missed by PSA alone.
At present there is no national screening programme because PSA is considered too unreliable, although men over 50 can request a PSA test.
The authors of this new study suggest that prostate MRI could be used for screening, though they say a larger study would be needed to assess this.