The outcome of an audit on the use of MRI scanning to determine patient's risk of prostate cancer

What is it about?

This article evaluates the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to prostate cancer management and compliance with the National Cancer Wait Times (NCWT) system. It is the outcome of an audited one-stop service including the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning as first-line specialist investigation to triage patients with age-elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the impact of this approach on the NCWT system. The service involved same-day MRI scanning, MDT review of the MRI report, and clinic review of the patient by a urology clinical nurse specialist. The sample of the audited service included all men referred by their general practitioners (GPs) with raised PSA via the NCWT. Prospective data was collected on the demographic and clinical background of each patient. Additional data was collected on dates of referrals and clinical tests and outcomes of clinical decisions. The objective of the audit was to assess the benefit of the one-stop service to the patients, clinicians and stakeholders. The discussion incorporates background information about PSA screening, the NCWT system, and the utility of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy and MRI scanning in the investigation of suspicious prostate cancer. It will also highlight the pivotal role played by urology nurse specialists in the development of the service.

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Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash