UPMC St. Margaret opens urology lab, streamlines prostate cancer testing, treatment

A new urology lab with advanced diagnostic testing is up and running at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital to deal with a slow but steady increase in the number of prostate cancer cases diagnosed each year.

The second-leading cause of cancer death in men, prostate cancer impacts one in eight men, according to the American Cancer Society.

Cases rise by about 3% each year in the United States.

Dr. Robert Turner, a urologic oncologist, said the advancements underscore the hospital’s commitment to disease prevention and communitywide healthy living during Men’s Health Month and beyond.

The move consolidated two previously separate hospital spaces into a single location with exam and procedure rooms, labs and scheduling areas.

The cost was $6.3 million, which also included roof replacement and air handling units for the building.

Notably, the clinic offers transperineal biopsies and prostate MRIs, both new to UPMC St. Margaret and both significant tools in detecting prostate cancer early and reliably, Turner said.

Transperineal biopsies are safer and potentially more effective than traditional transrectal biopsies, Turner said. Performed in-office with local anesthesia, the procedure has gained increased attention in recent years because of technology advancements — it has a detection rate of up to 90%. It also offers a reduced risk of infection and better test sampling.

Prostate MRI is a powerful imaging tool previously available only at select UPMC sites. The scan allows patients to get consultations and imaging in one location, streamlining care and reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment planning.

This year will see about 313,800 new cases of prostate cancer and about 35,800 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Older men, and Black and Caribbean men, are more likely to be impacted.

The average age of initial diagnosis is about 67.

In addition to diagnostic tests, the new space offers services that include vasectomy, robotic urologic surgery and treatment of kidney stones and urologic cancers, among others.

“A significant part of our mission at UPMC is to provide our communities with new options for advanced care, and the addition of these services represents our commitment to bringing state-of-the-art urologic services closer to home,” said Andrew Ritchie, vice president of UPMC Health Services Division and president of UPMC St. Margaret. “We’re thrilled to offer cutting-edge care in a new space.”