Molecular imaging and fusion targeted biopsy of the prostate

Purpose This paper provides a review on molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer detection and its applications in fusion targeted biopsy of the prostate. Methods Literature search was performed through the PubMed database using the keywords prostate cancer, MRI/ultrasound fusion, molecular imaging, and targeted biopsy. Estimates in autopsy studies indicate that 50% of men older than 50 years of age have prostate cancer. Systematic transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy is considered the standard method for prostate cancer detection and has a significant sampling error and a low sensitivity. Molecular imaging technology and new biopsy approaches are emerging to improve the detection of prostate cancer. Results Molecular imaging with PET and MRI shows promising results in the early detection of prostate cancer. MRI/TRUS fusion targeted biopsy has become a new clinical standard for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. PET molecular image-directed, three-dimensional ultrasound-guided biopsy is a new technology that has great potential for improving prostate cancer detection rate and for distinguishing aggressive prostate cancer from indolent disease. Conclusion Molecular imaging and fusion targeted biopsy are active research areas in prostate cancer research.