ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL IS FIRST TO OFFER TARGETED PROSTATE BIOPSY TO DETECT CANCER EARLIER

Berlin, Md. – A first on the Eastern Shore in prostate cancer detection, Atlantic General Urology is now offering UroNav MRI fusion-guided biopsy to more accurately detect and treat prostate cancer sooner in men.

Before the cutting edge technology came to Atlantic General Hospital, patients had to be referred to healthcare providers as far away as Washington, D.C. or Baltimore to have this type of diagnostic.

Traditionally, men on the Eastern Shore with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level or irregular digital rectal exam (DRE) would undergo a segmental prostate biopsy to detect cancerous lesions. A specialist would use ultrasound to guide the biopsy needle, and take random biopsies of the twelve quadrants of the prostate, potentially missing any suspicious tissues that are present.

With the UroNav MRI fusion-guided biopsy, the physician is able to more clearly visualize the prostate and any lesions in real-time, using an MRI overlay of the ultrasound. The MRI image allows the physician to pinpoint the exact tissue to biopsy instead of taking multiple random biopsies. As a result, high risk prostate cancers can be detected sooner, leading to earlier interventions with fewer potential treatment complications.

Research conducted by the American Medical Association shows that targeted biopsy such as the UroNav MRI fusion-guided biopsy diagnosed 30 percent more high-risk cancers versus the traditional biopsy method.

Dr. James Cherry, a urologist at Atlantic General Urology, performed the first UroNav MRI fusion-guided Biopsy on the Eastern Shore in late September.

“Until now it would require going across the bridge to Baltimore or DC to have this kind of a biopsy done. So to now have it available here on the Eastern Shore, it’s great because patients don’t have to travel, they can do it close to home,” said Cherry.

Cherry is a board-certified specialist in urological surgery and medicine. He served as director of urology at DuBois Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania for 14 years before joining the medical staff of Atlantic General Health System in 2013.

At age 50, men should begin getting regular prostate screenings. For men with a family history of prostate cancer, it’s recommended that men begin screenings at age 40. For more information, call Atlantic General Urology at 410-629-6277. The office is located on the Atlantic General Hospital main campus in the James G. Barrett Medical Office Building, located at 10231 Old Ocean City Boulevard, Suite 206, Berlin, MD.

Caption: Dr. James Cherry performing a MRI fusion-guided biopsy to detect prostate cancer.

About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) counties since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md., combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology and services. It provides quality specialty care such as weight loss surgery, orthopedics, outpatient infusion for individuals with cancer or blood/autoimmune disorders, retina surgery and a comprehensive women’s diagnostic center. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 40 primary care providers and specialists, care for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

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