Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
What is Prostate MRI?
Prostate MRI is the imaging of the prostate gland using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. The MRI scanner, a large magnet, is used to create images of various tissues in the body that a radiologist can use to diagnose abnormalities. In order to intensify the signals and improve the clarity of these images, several variations of MRI coils are sometimes used. These MRI coils can be placed on the surface of the body, e.g. a torso or pelvic MRI coil, or inserted into a body orifice, e.g. an endorectal coil.
Prostate MRI can be done with just a torso/pelvic coil or with a combination of an endorectal coil and a torso/pelvic coil. Endorectal Prostate MRI offers excellent image quality due to the proximity of the coil to the gland and can best help in cancer diagnosis and treatment planning.
Prostate MRI uses advanced magnetic resonance imaging to create very accurate and clear images of the prostate gland. These images are diagnostic-quality and are especially useful to clinicians when diagnosing prostate diseases. Additionally, medical images resulting from prostate MRI can be combined with powerful post-processing computer programs to provide very detailed information about the prostate. This information can offer a wider variety of diagnosis and treatment options for clinicians and patients.
Current standards for diagnosis, including ultrasound imaging, have limitations that can result in false negatives and false positives. According to the AdMeTech Foundation, a non-profit sponsor of medical research, some 15% of men with normal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels still have prostate cancer. Even when PSA levels are abnormal, some 88% of men end up not having prostate cancer yet undergo unnecessary biopsies.
Because only about 1% of the prostate is sampled during a typical biopsy, better visualization through endorectal prostate MRI can add an important assurance that the physician is sampling from the most suspicious areas.
About half of men who have treatments such as radical prostatectomy (complete prostate removal) and radiation therapy will suffer from complications such as incontinence and/or impotence.
Prostate MRI provides a way for the experts to obtain the best available information that can lead to better diagnosis and patient outcomes.
Benefits
- Prostate MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that does not require exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Prostate MRI provides more clear and detailed images of the soft-tissue structures of the prostate than other imaging methods. The level of detail makes MRI an invaluable tool in early diagnosis and evaluation of tumors.
- Prostate MRI images can help physicians evaluate the function as well as the structure of many organs.
- MRI contrast material is less likely to produce an allergic reaction than the iodine-based materials used for conventional x-rays and CT scanning.
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| Prostate Anatomy | Prostate Anatomy Seen Under MRI | |
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| Prostate Gland Seen With Ultrasound |
MRI images help differentiate between tumor and healthy tissue |
How does endorectal MRI help in the diagnosis of prostate cancer?
MRI provides excellent image quality for a more accurate look at the prostate gland. MRI uses magnetic fields to image the gland. This superior resolution offered by MRI can enable physicians to guide biopsies, determine cancer stage, conclude whether the cancer is contained within the gland or has spread, and help determine an appropriate treatment path for the patient.
When should I consider requesting a Prostate MRI?
Prostate MRI can be particularly useful in following cases:
- A patient has an increasing PSA level and a negative biopsy. The detailed information provided by MRI can lead the doctor to the area most suspicious for disease, thereby increasing the chance of obtaining a comprehensive biopsy.
- The patient’s cancer stage can be determined, by differentiating between a cancer that is within the prostate and a cancer that has spread beyond the prostate.
- Patients who have a local recurrence, indicated by a high PSA level, following a radical prostatectomy. MRI can evaluate the entire area for abnormal tissue.
- A patient's radiation treatment therapy can be planned, as it is important that the radiation be targeted to only the affected area. MRI can provide a clear picture in helping the oncologist guide the therapy that is most appropriate for a particular patient.
What can I expect during an endorectal MRI scan of the prostate?
MRI is most powerful when obtained with an endorectal coil. This coil is placed in the rectum at the start of the exam. Similar to an ultrasound probe, the coil is placed rectally because it provides the greatest amount of signal when placed near the prostate gland. This increased signal from the endorectal coil helps to provide excellent resolution (image quality).
The endorectal coil, sometimes called a balloon coil, has a flexible shaft with a small balloon on one end. Once inserted, the balloon is filled with either air or a special liquid until it comes into contact with and conforms to the size and shape of the prostate. It is not painful; however, it may cause some initial discomfort.
The total exam takes about 40 minutes. You may be asked to restrict your diet for a short period prior to the exam. Each institution has a patient prep procedure and that will be explained to you at the time of scheduling the examination.
List of MRI Centers
The following medical centers offer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer. Please contact the institution directly with questions or for more information about their services.
Please note ZERO does not officially endorse any of these institutions.
