The Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) has introduced a new and more advanced method for diagnosing patients with elevated PSA levels, marking an important improvement in prostate care on Aruba. PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a blood test commonly used to help detect prostate problems, including prostate cancer.
In the past, patients with high PSA levels would often undergo a prostate biopsy immediately. With the new approach, patients first receive an MRI scan to identify suspicious abnormalities in the prostate more accurately and at an earlier stage. This helps reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, which can be uncomfortable and stressful for patients.
According to the hospital, the new method is part of its ongoing commitment to improving the quality of healthcare for patients receiving urological treatment on Aruba.
The project was successfully implemented through the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team at HOH. The team included urologists Dr. Leong, Dr. Gonzalez, and Dr. Petronilia, together with radiologist Dr. van Lindert, radiology technicians Mr. Douglas and Ms. Henriquez, medical technicians Mr. Cicilia and Mr. Hernandez, IT specialist Mr. Brouwer, and radiology department manager Fullinck.
Urologist Dr. Leong described the development as an important advancement for patients. He explained that the new method is more precise and results in less pain and fewer complications. He also said he is pleased with the progress being made in prostate cancer care on Aruba.
Surgeon and HOH board member Dr. Yuri Casseres said the development represents a major step forward in providing modern and accurate cancer diagnostics with a stronger focus on patient-centered care. He noted that patients now have access to more advanced prostate diagnostics with fewer unnecessary procedures and a higher standard of medical care.
The new diagnostic process includes several stages for patients visiting the urology clinic. If the initial MRI scan identifies one or more suspicious areas, doctors then continue with additional testing using MRI and ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies. During this process, MRI images are combined with ultrasound images through so-called “fusion technology,” allowing doctors to locate suspicious abnormalities with greater precision.
This enables specialists to collect more targeted tissue samples for laboratory analysis, helping provide a clearer and more accurate diagnosis. According to the hospital, the method increases the reliability of test results while reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies as much as possible.
To introduce the new system, HOH worked closely with Siemens Nederland and Global Medica. Specific upgrades were made to the hospital’s MRI system within the radiology department to improve prostate imaging. Artificial intelligence technology was also integrated to improve efficiency and image quality. In addition, the hospital invested in new ultrasound equipment to fully support the new diagnostic technology.
With this innovative development, HOH said it continues to place patient care at the center of its services. The hospital also expressed appreciation to all healthcare professionals and staff members involved in making the project possible and helping further strengthen medical care on Aruba.
