Men have a prostate organ as part of their reproductive system. This organ is situated in the pelvis between the penis and bladder and around the front of the rectum. While the prostate is a small organ, its functions are of key importance. This part of the body is responsible for semen production (the fluid that aids in transporting sperms from the testicles). Unfortunately, this organ is also prone to cancer growth. When infected, the cancer can spread slowly, and a patient may only suffer from symptoms when it’s late. If you need to schedule a prostate MRI, we invite you to contact Los Angeles Diagnostics. We can help generate accurate results to clear you of cancer or ensure that you begin prompt treatment.
Prostate cancer is among the leading types of cancers that affect men in the United States. A report from the American Cancer Society shows that one in every nine men is diagnosed with this disease. On the bright side, prostate cancer is a far cry from a leading cause of death. Only 1 in 41 men diagnosed with the disease die from it. Early diagnosis and treatment can go a long way in ensuring you don’t succumb to the ailment.
MRI Of the Prostate Defined
MRI of the prostate involves using an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner to generate clear visuals of the prostate gland and its surrounding tissues. As aforementioned, the prostate is a small organ that pretty much resembles a walnut in shape and size. Through MRI scans, specialists can figure out whether the prostate is infected and whether medical intervention is necessary.
Here are the pros, cons, and limitations of MRI of the prostate:
Pros
- MRI scans are non-invasive, and patients aren’t exposed to radiation
- The generated visuals are detailed and clearer than the images produced by other imaging methods, including CT scans and X-rays. This enables early diagnosis and accurate evaluation of the extent of infections if any.
- Through MRI scans, specialists can diagnose a range of conditions, including cancer, infections, and an enlarged prostate, just to mention a few.
- Through MP-MRI (Multiparametric-magnetic resonance imaging), experts can diagnose prostate cancer and do a risk stratification to determine whether the ailment is slow-growing and low risk or aggressive and high risk. Furthermore, experts can find out whether the cancer has spread to other areas beyond the prostate.
- MRI scans help to detect anomalies that may not be clear when using other imaging methods. For instance, MRIs can scan through organs obscured by bone.
- During a procedure, experts use gadolinium contrast material which has a lower risk of causing allergic reactions compared to iodine-based contrast materials often used during x-rays and CT scans.
Cons
- If a patient must be sedated, there’s a risk of the experts using too much sedative. Even so, an expert will constantly monitor all the vital signs of a patient during the procedure.
- MRI scans don’t pose any risk to the average patient. However, patients with implanted medical devices such as heart pacemakers may not make good candidates for the procedure.
- Patients with severe kidney disease are at risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis when injected with gadolinium contrast. Your physician must assess your kidney function in detail before the administration of the contrast material.
- Some patients suffer mild allergic reactions because of the use of contrast material. However, such reactions are easy to control using medication.
- Patients required to undergo multiple MRI exams because of high risk or chronic health conditions risk small amounts of gadolinium remaining in their brain. Even so, this concern has no known effects on the health and well-being of patients.
MRI of the Prostate — Limitations
- The quality of the images generated highly depends on a patient’s ability to remain still during a procedure and follow breath-holding instructions to the latter. Patients in severe pain or those suffering from extreme anxiety may find it challenging to stay perfectly still or follow instructions during a procedure.
- MRI scanners have weight limits. Huge persons may not fit in smaller MRI machines.
- Like patient movements, metallic medical devices implanted into a patient may reduce the chances of obtaining clear images.
- Most MRI scanner models time the imaging by following the heart’s electrical activity. This means you may not achieve top-quality imaging if you have an irregular heartbeat.
- Patients have to wait for 6 to 8 weeks following a prostate biopsy to schedule for an MRI of the prostate. This is because MRI scans don’t distinguish between cancer and blood products or inflammation within the prostate. Note that a biopsy may cause some blood to appear within this area.
- Compared to other imaging methods, MRI exams are tough on the wallet. You may want to consult your health insurance provider before scheduling for diagnosis.
Who Needs MRI of the Prostate?
If your doctor requests MRI scans of the prostate, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have prostate cancer or an equally terrifying ailment. Such scans come in handy during the diagnosis of a range of concerns. For instance, an Mp-MRI helps to establish how blood and water molecules flow through your prostate. On the other hand, regular scans can detect cancer and determine whether the infection is aggressive or low risk.
Other uses of MRI scans of the prostate include evaluating concerns such as:
- Prostatitis, also referred to as prostate abscesses
- BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) or an enlarged prostate
- Congenital disabilities or anomalies
- Pelvic surgery complications
Moreover, your physician may request a prostate MRI if your blood tests show high levels of PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen). The prostate glands produce this substance, and it rises when a patient has prostate cancer or a prostate gland infection such as prostatitis.
If the scans show cancer, they will help your physician plan for the appropriate radiotherapy treatment. After radiotherapy, you may have to schedule another scan to help your doctor establish whether the prostate cancer is clear or has grown back.
In short, medical practitioners use prostate MRI to obtain detailed and clear images of your prostate gland. The images aid in the diagnosis of different concerns and not just prostate cancer.
Ways MRI of the Prostate Improves Diagnostic Accuracy
Like most cancers, there are no specified means of evaluating the risk of prostate cancer. Unless the disease presents symptoms, the easiest way to determine whether you have prostate cancer or are at risk of contracting the ailment is through early diagnosis.
We have mentioned the benefits, risks, and limitations of prostate MRI. You must evaluate the cons of screening versus the risk of an infection or cancer going undetected.
If you opt to schedule for prostate MRI, here is how the scans can enhance diagnostic accuracy:
Clear Distinctions Between Harmless and Harmful Cancers
Not all prostate cancers are clinically significant. The harmless variety is best left untreated because it cannot impact a patient’s health or life expectancy. “Over-diagnosis” is a significant problem, especially when it comes to prostate cancer matters. Fortunately, prostate MRI helps to reduce the risk of patients receiving aggressive cancer treatments for harmless cancers.
An exam will help your doctor establish the density and size of a tumor and its proximity to the bloodstream. Compared to a biopsy that can only correctly diagnose 48% of tumors, an MRI can accurately test up to 93% of tumors. This minimizes the risks allied with both overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Dodge the Need for Prostate Biopsy
Prostate MRI is non-invasive and low risk. On the other hand, biopsies are invasive and uncomfortable, not to mention that the procedure puts patients at risk of serious complications such as sepsis and antibiotic-resistant infections. Research shows that patients who undergo prostate biopsy have an 18% risk of developing complications.
There are two instances when a biopsy of the prostate would be necessary. They include:
- Your blood tests showed high levels of PSA
- Your digital rectal exams confirmed you have prostate cancer
A biopsy may not be necessary simply because you have high levels of PSA protein. The prostate-specific antigen levels can spike because of various reasons, including:
- Recent sexual activity
- Prostatitis
- Enlarged prostate
- Intense physical activity such as long bicycle rides
Therefore, blood tests showing a spiked PSA level may lack accuracy leading to an unnecessary biopsy. Generally, it is better to schedule an MRI to determine whether you have clinically significant cancers. You can proceed to have a biopsy if your digital rectal exams confirm the presence of aggressive tumors.
Reduced Risk of Missed Diagnosis
Prostate biopsies involve taking multiple tissue samples at random. Typically, a specialist can identify diseased tissue from the samples. However, there is also a considerable risk of failing to pick samples from infected areas. This increases the likelihood of a missed diagnosis.
On the other hand, MRI scans take images of the prostate and its surroundings. The process increases the odds of capturing everything, including the cancerous areas.
Through an MRI, a radiologist can highlight the exact locations suspected of cancer. After marking these areas, it is easier to guide the prostate needle to the best sites to collect biopsy samples. Generally, this improves the accuracy of diagnosis, limiting the chances of failing to identify infected areas.
The step to seek screening for prostate cancer is a very personal decision. The ideal screening method often varies from one patient to another. Even so, it makes sense to ask your doctor whether you make a good candidate for prostate MRI before you schedule for a biopsy.
Tips to Help You Prepare For MRI of the Prostate
You don’t need to do anything special in preparation for a prostate MRI. Usually, it’s perfectly okay to eat and drink as usual and even take your regular medications. In rare instances, the radiologist may request you to only eat liquid foods for at least 24 hours before your procedure.
You can expect the radiologist to ask a series of questions before your MRI scan. Generally, the expert will want to know whether you have undergone procedures involving installing metallic medical devices such as artificial joints or a pacemaker. The idea is to confirm that you make a good candidate for the scan.
Moreover, particular concerns may make it necessary to seek sedation before an MRI scan. For instance, it could be that you are claustrophobic, or you suffer from extreme anxiety. Sedation may also be necessary if you are in intense pain or suffer from other concerns that may impact your ability to remain still during a procedure.
Here are simple things you can do in preparation for the procedure:
- If your doctor prescribes Fleets Enema, take the medication at least 4 hours before your appointment. The idea is to give it adequate time to help you expel air and stool from your rectum for better prostate imaging.
- Remove all jewelry, especially those made from metal. Such items can heat up and burn your skin once you are placed in the scanner.
- Arrive at least half an hour before your appointment, especially if you have to be sedated
- Visit the bathroom before the scan
What to Expect During Prostate MRI
Before the procedure begins, your radiologist will request you to remove your clothes and wear the hospital gown. You will then need to lie on the table that slides into the MRI machine. Before this, the specialist will insert a needle into a vein in your hand or arm.
The injection will administer the following medications:
Buscopan
Buscopan is a medication used to reduce bowel movement. Note that once the procedure is underway, bowel movement can impact the quality of images generated. Your radiologist will need to ensure a maximum chance of achieving clear and detailed images the first time.
Gadolinium Contrast Medium
The Gadolinium contrast medium, simply referred to as contrast, helps to highlight cancer cells in the prostate gland. Note that a radiologist doesn’t always need to use a contrast material.
Sedatives
For some patients, the use of sedatives is crucial to help them feel sleepy or relaxed. For instance, your radiologist may recommend the use of sedatives if you are claustrophobic, suffer from extreme anxiety, or are in serious pain.
Sometimes, a radiologist may find it best to use an endorectal coil during the scan. The endorectal coil is a kind of latex rubber with a tube in the middle that contains coils. It is inserted into the rectum to help enhance the imaging generated from the prostate and its surroundings. Once it is inserted, the specialist will inflate it then remove it after the scan.
Moreover, the radiologist may administer an enema to help clear your bowel. Again, having a clean bowel during the exam will go a long way in ensuring the scan generates top-quality images.
Most MRI machines, including the modern variety, produce loud knocking noises during a procedure. Your radiologist will therefore provide headphones or earplugs to help block out the noise. Through the earphones, you can listen to music during the scan.
MRI machines feature a central tunnel. The table you are lying on will slide into the tunnel either with your head or feet first. This will all depend on the type of scanner being used. The scanning takes anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes. This may depend on the number of images a radiologist needs to generate as well as your ability to lay still and hold your breath when instructed.
What to Expect After Prostate MRI
After the session, you can eat and drink whatever suits your preferences. The radiologist will send the scan report to your doctor, who will help to interpret it. Depending on whether there are issues of concern or not, your doctor will inform you about the best care plan to begin.
Typically, an MRI of the prostate doesn’t have any side effects. However, some patients may experience mildly blurred vision and dry mouth because of the Buscopan injection. Even so, these are just mild effects that don’t last for more than 60 minutes. If you experience changes in your vision, rest for a short while to allow the side effect to wear out. You could have someone drive you home, although this is often not necessary.
Patients who are given a sedative before the procedure may experience drowsiness. In this case, having a designated driver to take you home is necessary.
Often, radiologists recommend waiting for 6 to 8 weeks following a prostate biopsy to schedule for MRI scans. However, you may have to go in for a session sooner under your doctor’s recommendations. In this case, you may notice spots of blood once the radiologist removes the endorectal coil.
Find a Los Angeles Diagnostician Near Me
Given the current statistics surrounding prostate cancer, taking charge of your health is in your best interests. You can do this by scheduling a prostate MRI after discussing any health concerns with your primary care provider. If you need prostate MRI, turn to Los Angeles Diagnostics for top-quality services. We treat our patients with dignity and confidentiality and use the best equipment to ensure proper diagnosis. To schedule for scans, call us today at 323-486-7502.
