Philip J. Buffington, MD, chief medical officer, The Urology Group, discusses MRI fusion-guided biopsy in patients with prostate cancer.

MRI fusion is done in many groups for the second biopsy for patients with prostate cancer, Buffington explains. A patient receiving MRI fusion is either on active surveillance with known prostate cancer or had a negative biopsy in the past but their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is still rising.

The MRI is not so much for screening but helps target an area that may have been missed on a prior biopsy. A patient receives an MRI and if there is a concerning area the physicians take those images and fuse it with the images from the ultrasound to better target the area and biopsy it, says Buffington.

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Dr. Buffington on MRI Fusion for Prostate Cancer

Philip J. Buffington, MD, chief medical officer, The Urology Group, discusses effective prostate cancer screening methods and when to use active surveillance.

 Screening for prostate cancer should be done in a smart and efficient way, explains Buffington. Active surveillance has become an important step of determining treatment. Over the last 5 years, the use of active surveillance has increased.

 According to Buffington, the amount of procedures a physician completes is not going to be as important as practicing smart medicine, spending a smaller amount of healthcare money, and giving better overall care.

Dr. Buffington Discusses Prostate Cancer Screening

Philip J. Buffington, MD, Chief Medical Officer, The Urology Group, discusses the use of fusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in prostate cancer with 

Fusion MRI is typically used for a second biopsy, in patients with prostate cancer who are on active surveillance, or patients who have had a negative biopsy in the past, but their PSA is still rising, Buffington says. The MRI helps target an area that may have been missed on a prior biopsy.

The images from the MRI are then fused with the images on the ultrasound, which allows urologists to better target and bioposy the area.

Philip J. Buffington, MD, Chief Medical Officer, The Urology Group, discussed the use of fusion MRI in prostate cancer with OncLive during the LUGPA Annual Meeting.

Dr. Buffington on The Use of Fusion MRI in Prostate Cancer

Philip J. Buffington, MD, chief medical officer at The Urology Group, discusses administering degarelix (Firmagon) and determining which patients to treat with the hormonal therapy.

Unlike the common hormone LHRH-agonist therapy, degarelix does not cause a “flare,” or initial increase in testosterone, during the first few weeks of treatment. However, patients need to be injected with degarelix once per month, whereas an LHRH drug can be administered every 4 to 6 months. Buffington says that he believes newer versions of degarelix will be longer-acting.

In addition, Buffington says that he always tries to use degarelix for patients with a very elevated PSA with widespread metastatic disease in the bones, bone pain, or partial paralysis in order to avoid a flare phenomenon.

Philip J. Buffington, MD, chief medical officer at The Urology Group, discusses administering degarelix (Firmagon) and determining which patients to treat with the hormonal therapy.buffington-thumb.jpg

Philip J. Buffington, MD

Articles

Dr. Buffington on MRI Fusion for Prostate Cancer

Dr. Buffington Discusses Prostate Cancer Screening

Dr. Buffington on The Use of Fusion MRI in Prostate Cancer

Dr. Buffington on Degarelix and Appropriate Patients