19/08/2026
New research from UCLH radiologists suggests that prostate cancer in some men can be identified from an MRI scan with a very high degree of confidence, potentially reducing the need for a biopsy before treatment begins.
Radiologists identified a subset of patients in whom they were ‘99% sure’ there was tumour. Every one of these patients (69/69, 100%) turned out to have clinically significant on biopsy. This has raised the possibility that some men could be offered treatment without first undergoing a biopsy.
Biopsy remains the standard way of confirming a prostate cancer diagnosis, but it is an invasive procedure that carries a small risk of infection, urinary problems and other side effects, and can occasionally miss a tumour that is present. Reducing reliance on biopsy could mean faster access to treatment and less discomfort and anxiety for patients, without compromising safety.
UCLH consultant radiologist Alex Kirkham said: “For a number of cancers, we already treat patients on the strength of imaging alone, without putting them through an invasive biopsy first. This study suggests prostate cancer could, in some cases, join that list.
"If we can confirm these findings in larger, multi-centre studies, it could mean some men reach treatment faster and avoid a procedure that, while generally safe, is not without risk or discomfort."
Learn more about the study here: https://buff.ly/EiJZbtu
