Confirmation of prostate cancer relies primarily on prostate puncture, commonly by ultrasound-guided transrectal and transperineal routes, usually using a 12-needle systemic puncture that covers the vast majority of the prostate gland.
But because of the systematic puncture approach, puncture is performed at only a few fixed points in the prostate. If the tumor is small or grows outside of these areas, it can cause a missed diagnosis, so even a negative puncture result cannot completely rule out prostate cancer.
There have been many new advances in the imaging diagnosis of prostate cancer in recent years. Among them is the use of multiparametric MRI, which has greatly improved the sensitivity of the diagnosis. The fusion of MRI images with ultrasound real-time images through computer software, also known as MRI and ultrasound fusion imaging, allows for more precise target guidance to the location of the tumor shown by MRI for puncture using this technique, which is prostate-targeted puncture.
Targeted prostate puncture can improve the detection rate of prostate cancer, especially clinically significant prostate cancer, and reduce the number of puncture stitches, and it is believed that as the technology of the device becomes more widely available, targeted puncture will be rapidly promoted.