Optimal Biopsy Protocols for Prostate Cancer

Authors: Sofer A.¹; Zeng J.²; Mun S.K.³

Source: Annals of Operations Research, Volume 119, Numbers 1-4, March 2003 , pp. 63-74(12)

Publisher: Springer

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $47.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men. Biopsy for prostate cancer is a procedure known as transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy. Because of the low resolution of ultrasound, the urologist cannot usually distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue. For this reason, most biopsies follow standard protocols based on long-term experience of physicians. Recent studies indicate that these protocols have a significant rate of false negative diagnoses. In this research we use real prostate specimens removed by prostatectomy to develop a 3-D distribution map of cancer in the prostate, and use this to develop optimized biopsy procedures. The new procedures have detection rates that are significantly higher than those of current procedures, and thus have the potential to increase the rate of early detection of prostate cancer.

Keywords: prostate cancer; biopsies; optimization

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, George Mason University asofer@gmu.edu 2: Imaging Science and Informations Systems Center, Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center zeng@georgetown.edu 3: Imaging Science and Informations Systems Center, Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Publication date: 2003-03-01