Francisco G. La Rosa, MD, presented “The Third Dimension in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis” during the 31st International Prostate Cancer Update in July 2021 in Snowbird, Utah.

How to cite: La Rosa, Francisco G. “The Third Dimension in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.” July 2021. Accessed Jul 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/the-third-dimension-in-prostate-cancer-diagnosis/

The Third Dimension in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis – Summary

Francisco G. La Rosa, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado Anschutz in Denver, discusses in vivo 3D imaging and how it can benefit physicians in treating prostate cancer. He explains that, unfortunately, most views of the prostate are just 2D, but clinicians require a 3D view to really understand a lesion. Dr. La Rosa then introduces his own process of creating a 3D model of the pelvic area and producing a 3D model of a prostate that could be used to practice biopsies and other procedures at the Butcher Symposium on Genomics and Biotechnology Workshop in 2007. He displays an image of a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy procedure, explaining that going through the rectum is challenging because of probe inflexibility but a system that takes a biopsy through both the rectum and perineum can solve this challenge. Dr. La Rosa’s proposed system uses a template through which a biopsy can be done through the perineum and information from the biopsy cores and ultrasound are run through in vivo 3D biomapping software. He concludes with a discussion of how multifocality can be more challenging to overcome and states that in vivo 3D examination provides physicians and patients with a reliable assessment of grade and stage of disease and the opportunity to choose the most appropriate therapeutic options, while also showing a highly accurate ability to detect clinically significant prostate cancer lesions as compared with 3D reconstruction of prostatectomy specimens.

About The 31st Annual International Prostate Cancer Update:

The International Prostate Cancer Update (IPCU), founded in 1990, is a multi-day CME conference focused on prostate cancer treatment updates with expert, international faculty. It is led by expert physicians and is designed for urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Dr. La Rosa delivered this educational activity during the 31st iteration of the meeting in July 2021 in Snowbird, Utah.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Francisco G. La Rosa, MD, FCAP, serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and is a distinguished member of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. He originally graduated as an M.D. in Lima, Peru, with Residency in Clinical Pathology, followed by Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the “University of Colorado.” He is Board Certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, and specializes in genitourinary, renal, and heart pathology. He is also recognized as an expert in pathology informatics.

Dr. La Rosa actively engages in clinical practice, research, and education with over 100 publications in refereed journals. His primary hobbies include photography and videography, both of which he has utilized for educational purposes by creating several websites dedicated to the teaching of pathology.

Dr. La Rosa holds memberships in several national and international organizations, including the College of American Pathologists, American Urological Association, Peruvian American Medical Association, Catholic Medical Association and Association for Pathology Informatics. His research involvement extends to collaboration on various research grants in genitourinary pathology, and he serves as a member and study coordinator at the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), Genitourinary Committee. Most notably, he collaborates closely with Dr. E. David Crawford and his team on cutting-edge technology for diagnosing and treating prostate and urinary cancers. As a faculty member of Grand Rounds in Urology, he actively participates in various innovative educational activities within the field of urology.

As a graduate from the Teaching Scholar Program at the University of Colorado, Dr. La Rosa imparts his knowledge to medical students, as well as pathology residents and fellows. His commitment to excellence in teaching has earned him several recognitions.

Beyond national borders, Dr. La Rosa is recognized as an Honorary Professor at the Medical School Hipolito Unanue of the National University Federico Villarreal in Lima, Peru. He also serves as the co-founder and current Administrator of the Asociación Iberoamericana de Telesalud y Telemedicina (AITT) and holds the position of founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Revista de la AITT (ISSN 2411-3840). The mission of these endeavors is to promote and coordinate programs and activities in telehealth and telemedicine among Latin American countries. Additionally, he serves on several international scientific committees and editorial boards of scientific journals, further contributing to the global advancement of pathology.