The use of MRI scans to detect prostate cancer at an earlier stage could help to guide treatment plans and reduce the risk of surgery-related complications, such as male incontinence, experts say.

At present, many men have to undergo a traditional biopsy in order to detect prostate cancer, but scientists are concerned that this may lead to over-diagnosis. As a result, some men whose cancer is slow-growing and harmless may have unnecessary surgery, placing them at risk of avoidable complications such as male incontinence. Now, medical researchers are embarking upon a clinical trial to see whether MRI scans could reduce the number of men who need invasive biopsies. Richard Hindley, consultant urologist at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, told the Daily Telegraph that the trial was "hugely important".

He said: "There's an increased realisation that the traditional biopsy technique can lead to a misdiagnosis. "By making sure that fewer aggressive tumours are missed in the early stages, [the use of MRI scans] would also allow more men to have appropriate treatment and reduce the likelihood of complications and death from prostate cancer."

About five per cent of men have serious long-term urinary incontinence after surgery to remove the prostate gland, according to Cancer Research UK.