Ultrasonic tissue typing of prostate tissue

Prostate cancer is the highest-incidence and second leading cancer killer of men in the US. Its diagnosis now relies virtually exclusively on biopsy, and many surgical procedures are performed inappropriately because of the unknown prior spread of cancer. Ultrasonic spectrum analysis of radio-frequency echo signals may offer a means of reducing unnecessary biopsies and surgery, and improving biopsy guidance. Initial results provide an encouraging ROC curve area of 0.88 for differentiating cancerous from noncancerous prostate tissue, which represents far superior sensitivity and specificity than other means used to determine whether biopsy is required