by Dr Vahan Kassabian

Director of Atlanta Prostate Center

AI and Imaging in Prostate Cancer: Smarter Detection, Safer Treatments

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men, yet its diagnosis and treatment have historically been filled with uncertainty. Many men have faced the dilemma of being overtreated for cancers that may never cause harm, while others risk undertreatment because aggressive cancers were not identified early enough.

The key to solving this challenge lies in better imaging and smarter interpretation—and that’s where artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to transform the field. At Atlanta Prostate Center, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution. By exclusively using BotImage AI, the first FDA-approved AI platform for prostate MRI interpretation, we are uniquely positioned to deliver smarter detection and safer treatments, especially for patients considering focal therapies like Pulsed Electric Field Ablation (PEFA).

Why Imaging Matters So Much in Prostate Cancer

Unlike cancers in organs that are easy to biopsy or scan in their entirety, prostate cancer presents unique challenges:

• Prostate cancer can be multifocal. Many men have more than one lesion, sometimes in different parts of the gland.
• Some cancers are indolent, others aggressive. Distinguishing between clinically insignificant Gleason 6 disease and aggressive Gleason 7 or higher disease is crucial.
• Traditional biopsy is imperfect. Random 12-core biopsies can miss significant cancers, over-sample low-grade disease, and sometimes give misleading results.

This is why MRI of the prostate has become the modern standard. Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) provides a roadmap—showing where lesions are, how suspicious they look, and whether the cancer is likely confined or spreading outside the prostate.

The challenge? Interpreting MRI correctly is complex and subjective. Radiologists must evaluate subtle differences across multiple imaging sequences. Even highly trained experts may vary in how they score the same lesion.

That’s where AI steps in.

Enter BotImage AI: A Smarter Way to Read MRI

BotImage AI is the first FDA-cleared artificial intelligence platform designed specifically for prostate MRI interpretation. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze mpMRI scans, helping to detect and characterize prostate lesions with greater consistency and accuracy.

How BotImage AI Works

• Automated detection: AI flags suspicious regions that may contain clinically significant cancer.
• Objective scoring: Provides standardized PI-RADS–like assessments, reducing variability between radiologists.
• Fewer false negatives: AI has demonstrated an ability to catch lesions that human readers might overlook.
• Fewer false positives: At the same time, it reduces the risk of over-calling benign findings as suspicious.

Why This Matters for Patients

• More accurate diagnosis: You’re less likely to be told you have cancer when you don’t—or that you don’t have cancer when you do.
• Smarter targeting of biopsies: Instead of random sampling, MRI with BotImage AI helps us perform precise MRI-targeted biopsies, leading to better risk stratification.
• Confidence in treatment planning: Whether we’re considering active surveillance, focal therapy, surgery, or radiation, better imaging means smarter decisions.

AI + Imaging = The Foundation for Focal Therapy

One of the most exciting advances in prostate cancer treatment is the rise of focal therapy—targeting just the cancerous lesion(s) rather than removing or irradiating the entire prostate.

But focal therapy can only succeed if we can:

1. See the cancer clearly (so we know what to target).
2. Define the cancer accurately (so we know which lesions require treatment versus monitoring).
3. Plan treatment precisely (so we destroy the cancer while sparing nerves and surrounding tissue).

This is exactly what BotImage AI enables. By improving the detection and characterization of prostate lesions on MRI, it lays the groundwork for focal therapy to be both safe and effective.

At Atlanta Prostate Center, we combine BotImage AI’s capabilities with advanced treatment options like Pulsed Electric Field Ablation (PEFA), which uses non-thermal electrical pulses to ablate cancer cells while preserving continence and sexual function. Together, AI-driven detection and next-generation focal therapy represent a paradigm shift in prostate cancer care.

Why Atlanta Prostate Center Is Uniquely Positioned

While many practices may offer prostate MRI, very few have embraced AI-powered imaging analysis—and fewer still use FDA-cleared tools like BotImage AI. At Atlanta Prostate Center:

• We exclusively use BotImage AI for prostate MRI analysis, ensuring every patient benefits from the most advanced, validated AI in the field.
• We integrate AI findings into a multidisciplinary workflow, combining radiology, urology, and pathology expertise.
• We offer the full spectrum of treatments—from active surveillance to radiation, robotic surgery, and focal therapies like PEFA—so patients get recommendations based on what’s best for them, not what’s available in-house.
• We are early adopters of focal therapy, with AI-enhanced imaging that makes us especially well-positioned to deliver these cutting-edge treatments safely.

This means when you walk through our doors, you’re not just getting a standard MRI—you’re getting the next generation of prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment planning.

Benefits for Different Patient Groups

Men on Active Surveillance

• AI-enhanced MRI improves the ability to track low-risk cancers over time, catching any signs of progression early.
• Reduces unnecessary biopsies and helps avoid overtreatment.

Men with Gleason 6 or 7 Disease Considering PEFA

• Accurate lesion detection and delineation are critical to ensure the focal therapy hits the target.
• BotImage AI provides greater precision in identifying candidates who can benefit most from focal therapy.

Men with High-Risk or High-Volume Disease

• Even when focal therapy isn’t appropriate, AI-enhanced MRI helps plan surgery or radiation by clarifying extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle involvement, and other risk features.

The Future: Smarter, Safer, More Personalized Care

AI isn’t replacing doctors—it’s augmenting them. By taking on the heavy lifting of image analysis, AI tools like BotImage allow radiologists and urologists to focus on what matters most: interpreting the findings in the context of the patient’s overall health and goals.

Looking forward, the integration of AI with MRI, genomic testing, and real-time treatment technologies promises a future where prostate cancer care is:

• More precise (treating only what needs to be treated)
• More personalized (matching therapy to tumor biology and patient priorities)
• Safer (with lower risks of side effects)
• More effective (with earlier detection and better long-term outcomes)

Key Takeaways

• Imaging is the cornerstone of modern prostate cancer care, guiding diagnosis and treatment.
• MRI interpretation can be subjective, but AI is changing that by providing more accurate and consistent results.
• BotImage AI is the first FDA-approved AI tool for prostate MRI, and it enhances detection, biopsy targeting, and treatment planning.
• Focal therapy like PEFA depends on precise imaging—making Atlanta Prostate Center, with its exclusive use of BotImage AI, uniquely positioned to deliver the safest, most effective focal therapy in the region.
• By combining AI-driven imaging with a full suite of therapies, Atlanta Prostate Center offers smarter detection, safer treatments, and personalized care for every patient.

Final Word

The future of prostate cancer care is here—and it’s being built on the foundation of AI-enhanced imaging. At Atlanta Prostate Center, we’re proud to lead the way with BotImage AI, bringing patients the benefits of smarter detection and safer treatments.

If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer—or if you’re at risk and want the most advanced screening and treatment options—our team is here to guide you every step of the way. With AI, imaging, and the full range of therapies under one roof, you can trust that your care will be accurate, personalized, and focused on preserving your quality of life.