MRI Can Improve Robotic-Assisted Prostate Surgery

Using MRI before surgery to treat prostate cancer can reduce complications such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, according to researchers at University of California at Los Angeles. Surgeons at UCLA use robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), which is still largely dependent by parameters entered by the surgeon. In the study published Tuesday in the journal Radiology, researchers looked at 104 men with prostate cancer who underwent preoperative endorectal coil MR imaging. One surgeon determined a surgery plan with clinical information alone and then another plan using the MR imaging. The surgery plan was changed in 28 of the 104 patients. The special MR technique can be used to help surgeons decide whether to spare or remove nerves near the prostate that are critical to sexual function.