Does color Doppler ultrasound improve prostate cancer detection?
Color Doppler ultrasound is a method of ultrasound that allows assessment of blood flow superimposed over the conventional ultrasound image. Because areas of cancer may have increased blood flow, some physicians have suggested that color Doppler may improve the ability to detect cancer. Careful studies suggest that color Doppler does not specifically detect cancer, since areas of increased blood flow may also represent inflammation, infection or even benign tissue. Therefore, at the Smilow Center, we use color Doppler to direct biopsies, but it never supersedes the need for a biopsy. In addition to color Doppler, Smilow Center physicians are also evaluating a number of investigative imaging modalities to enhance the detection of prostate cancer and potentially reduce the need for biopsy.
