Current developments in prostate cancer
What is Robotic Surgery?
In which cases of prostate cancer is it indicated and what advantages and disadvantages does it present, compared to the classic surgical approach?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. Both the European and American Urological Societies have established annual screening for every man after the age of 50, with PSA and examination by a urologist. Thus, any increased value or sudden increase in PSA should raise suspicion of prostate cancer and subsequently be investigated by a urologist.
In recent years, significant revolutions have occurred in the field of prostate cancer, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
Our clinic is now a reference center for prostate cancer, offering many modern and personalized options to each patient for both diagnosis and effective treatment.
A) Initially, the appearance of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), in centers with experience and modern equipment, allows for the accurate detection of cancer. Any sudden increase in PSA is first investigated with a multiparametric MRI, allowing the identification of a possible suspicious lesion in the prostate. Besides, the guidelines of the European Urological Association (EAU) recommend that this imaging be performed before any prostate biopsy.
B) The second development concerns the diagnosis of cancer by applying prostate biopsy through the perineum (transperineal biopsy), with Fusion technology. With this method (after fusing the mp-MRI and transrectal ultrasound images), prostate tissue samples are obtained with greater diagnostic accuracy, reliability, a lower rate of infections/sepsis, a lower need for antibiotics, and it offers the possibility of performing targeted therapies where indicated.
C) In recent years, we have adopted localized therapy technologies for prostate cancer in our clinic. These treatments, in selected patient cases, allow us to intervene effectively in the treatment of prostate cancer, without any surgery. With the Nanoknife / IRE Technology / irreversible electroporation technology, we cause selective necrosis of prostate cancer cells, while with the Focal One technology, we cause localized apoptosis of prostate cancer lesions with high-energy ultrasound focus. Targeted treatments ensure effective treatment of the cancer lesion, while keeping the remaining healthy prostate parenchyma intact.
D) Finally, a major revolution is now the treatment of prostate cancer, depending on the indications and stage of the disease, with increasingly minimally invasive surgical techniques such as Robotic surgery. The robotic system allows the treatment of both localized and advanced prostate cancer with preservation of the angioneurotic bundles and the performance of pelvic lymph node dissection where necessary.
Moreover, our clinic has many years of experience as the first robotic system was installed at the Medical Center in Maroussi 15 years ago.
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