Kasraeian Urology Unveils Jacksonville's First UroNav Advanced Prostate Cancer Detection Technology

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A new, cutting edge prostate cancer test is now available in the First Coast that promises to revolutionize the way prostate cancer is diagnosed.  Dr. Ali Kasraeian, fellowship-trained at the world-renowned Montsouris Institute in Paris, France, performed the first UroNav MRI-fusion guided prostate biopsy in the North Florida/South Georgia region, bringing this innovative technology in prostate cancer diagnosis and management to Greater Jacksonville.  Over the past year, Dr. Kasraeian, and his colleague and radiologist, Dr. Joshua Yellin, fellowship-trained at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and Medical Director of Precision Imaging, have worked hard in cooperation with the world-renowned team at University College London and Nuada to establish a program for advanced diagnostics in prostate cancer in Florida.

The UroNav fusion biopsy system is an innovative technology that uses a combination of MRI and ultrasound images for multi-parametric localization and targeted biopsy of the prostate.  Unlike the traditional ultrasound-only based approach that takes multiple "blind" samples (and only yields successful detection rates in the 30^th percentile), UroNav allows urologists to specifically target the Regions of Interest (ROI) identified with a previously performed MRI scan.  The device functions similar to a GPS system in finding suspected cancerous areas within the prostate gland guiding the physician to the ROIs for a precise biopsy.  The result is prostate cancer detection rates approaching 80 to 90 percent.  In many cases, this technique may negate the need for multiple biopsies endured over a prolonged period of time.  Patients can now benefit from a more accurate and reliable biopsy when prostate cancer is present and more confidence in a negative biopsy result when it is not.

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer has become the most common form of cancer in American men and the second-leading cause of cancer death in this population, as 1 man in 7 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.  According to the American Cancer Society, 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and, unfortunately, more than 29,000 will subsequently die this year. Currently, prostate cancer screening uses a combination of a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam to identify men at risk for prostate cancer and in need of a prostate biopsy.

Kasraeian Urology is the only center in the region and one of the very few centers in the world to provide this cutting-edge advanced diagnostic technique to its patients.  The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting in Dr. Kasraeian's Beach Boulevard office and takes less than an hour to complete.  Dr. Kasraeian says, "I think the use of the UroNav fusion biopsy technology is going to significantly improve the precision of prostate cancer diagnosis and allow us to further personalize the management of each individual's prostate cancer.  I am very excited and proud to be able to provide this cutting edge technology at Kasraeian Urology, bringing the highest level of advanced diagnostics to the patients here in the Jacksonville area and beyond."

"I first became interested in this technology during my fellowship at the Montsouris Institute in Paris," says Dr. Kasraeian. "Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the leaders in the field learning how to apply this cutting-edge technology to improve the diagnosis of prostate cancer.  It identifies cancers that may have been previously missed by standard biopsy techniques and better monitors men with prostate cancer on active surveillance."

Nick Trerotola, a representative for Invivo, the company that developed the UroNav device along with the National Institute of Health, is enthusiastic about the prognosis for the area's prostate cancer patients.  "This is a game-changer in the fight against prostate cancer.  The advent of this technology is sweeping in the field of men's health.  If you compare the traditional method of prostate biopsy to the 'carpet-bombing' air campaigns of WWII, UroNav biopsy is akin to modern-day laser-guided smart-bombs; the two methodologies don't even compare in their efficacy.  The precision of this device gives urologists like Dr. Kasraeian the ability to not only better diagnose cancer when present, but also confidently reassure patients in the accuracy of their negative biopsy."

For more information visit: www.KasraeianUrology.com

CONTACT: Andrew Eriksen, 904.305.0299, [email protected]

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SOURCE Kasraeian Urology

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