New, sophisticated system combines MRI with ultrasound for more accurate prostate biopsies
Middletown, NY – Garnet Health Medical Center, formerly Orange Regional Medical Center, now offers innovative technology, the UroNav, which enhances the ability to diagnose and treat prostate cancer earlier.
The UroNav Fusion Biopsy System combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of the prostate with ultrasound-guided 3-D images in real time, allowing for precise imaging of the prostate and any abnormal changes (lesions) that may or may not be cancerous.
“When we are able to see the prostate in this way, we can identify suspicious areas easier, and then target them for biopsy,” said Garnet Health Doctors Urologist Samuel Abourbih, who leads the prostate biopsy program at Garnet Health Medical Center. “The quality of this imaging enables us to get the most accurate results, and guide the most effective treatment plan if cancer is found.”
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. When caught early, it is highly treatable.
The UroNav fusion biopsy system combines electromagnetic tracking and navigation, similar to a GPS navigation system, with an onboard computer and a real-time imaging interface in one easy-to-use, mobile workstation. A small, localized electromagnetic field is generated and used in conjunction with a navigation sensor mounted to the existing ultrasound transducer. The physician positions the navigation system above the patient and can utilize UroNav’s guided workflow. This workflow follows the same Transrectal Ulstrasound (TRUS) biopsy procedure urologists already use which is used to produce detailed images of the prostate gland and surrounding tissues.
Benefits of UroNav include:
- A 3-D view of the prostate, clarity that is otherwise unavailable – reducing the risk of overlooking a tumor
- Improved diagnosis accuracy, which leads to better treatment options and outcomes
- Incorporation of a GPS-like system to guide the biopsy needle to suspicious areas
- Reduces the number of tissue samples taken from the prostate
- Reduces discomfort and gives peace of mind for patient
- Targeted biopsies help to eliminate the need for multiple, random (or blind) biopsies
- Targeted biopsies may help to detect aggressive tumors that could have been missed with a blind biopsy
“We are committed to using the latest innovations in technology to provide our patients with the highest quality of care,” Garnet Health Doctors President Gerard Galarneau, MD said. “The UroNav Fusion Biopsy System allows urologists to identify, target and diagnose prostate lesions quickly and with precision.”
For more information, please call Garnet Health Doctors at 845-333-7575 or visit garnethealth.org.
About Garnet Health Medical Center
Garnet Health Medical Center features seven floors of state-of-the-art technology and provides 383 beds and employs approximately 3,300 healthcare professionals. In addition to inpatient services, highlights of Garnet Health Medical Center include a cancer center and a five-story outpatient services building on the main campus, featuring Garnet Health Doctors with primary care and specialty physicians, urgent care, outpatient surgical and diagnostic services and more. Garnet Health Medical Center was named by Healthgrades as one of the 100 best hospitals nationally for cardiac intervention and General Surgery and was a recipient of the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™. Garnet Health Medical Center also achieved the Healthgrades 2019 and 2020 America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award™ placing the hospital in the top 5 percent of more than 4,500 hospitals assessed nationwide for its superior clinical performance. It is a designated Magnet hospital recognizing excellence in Nursing; a recipient of the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite; and its Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system has achieved Stage 7 which is the highest level on HIMSS Analytics’ EMR adoption model. Garnet Health Medical Center is an Academic Affiliate of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. It is also a member of Garnet Health, its corporate parent, which is recognized by Ethisphere as one of the 2018 and 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies. To learn more about Garnet Health Medical Center, visit garnethealth.org.
