Indications for MRI of the prostate

MRI of the prostate: description of the procedure, preparation, parameters

Prostatitis, prostate adenoma, cancer are the diseases that are increasingly being diagnosed in a man at a urologist's appointment. The prostate gland is very vulnerable to external stimuli and to the negative effects of the environment.

Due to hormonal changes in the male body, the prostate can increase in size and become inflamed. For this reason, many serious diseases develop. If one of the symptoms of a disease of the genitourinary system appears, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a thorough diagnosis. In order to study the patient, MRI of the prostate is often used.

Features of the procedure

This basic procedure is used to diagnose serious prostate diseases in men. With the help of a high-precision diagnostic method, the effectiveness of further therapy of the male organ is ensured. This is especially important for prostate adenoma.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) will effectively and safely detect tumors in the prostate. The study of the body is carried out by irradiation with a magnetic field. The equipment gives the result in the form of a clear picture of the organ. X-ray photo allows you to assess the general condition of the tissues. An MRI of the prostate gland does not harm the patient's health, but doctors still recommend that this type of examination be performed no more than 2 times a year.

What is the purpose of diagnostics?

MRI makes it possible to diagnose a malignant tumor of the prostate. This type of research helps to identify cancer in the early stages of the disease. In addition, this type of diagnosis allows you to identify:

• tumor cells behind the bone structure;
• hidden anomaly;
• inflammatory process.

With the help of MRI of the prostate, it is possible to assess the structure and size of the prostate. This type of diagnosis is the most accurate, apart from a biopsy. This diagnostic method does not require a special approach.

Indications

After a visual examination of the patient, the doctor listens to the patient's complaints. In the event that a man is concerned about pain in the pelvic area and there are problems with urination, the doctor prescribes additional studies. You should definitely have an MRI of the prostate if:

• prostate enlarged too much;
• an inflammatory process is present;
• fluid accumulates in the area of the pelvic organs;
• there is a suspicion of a benign or malignant neoplasm of the prostate.

MRI is prescribed to detect diseases in the early stages of their development. With the help of tomography, the specialist controls the treatment process. This makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the drugs prescribed by the attending physician.

How to prepare for diagnostics?

Many people are concerned about how to prepare for a prostate MRI. Preparation does not require complex actions. But still doctors recommend:

Many experts recommend emptying the stomach with an enema or taking a laxative the day before a Prostate MRI. Preparation for the study should be carried out based on the recommendations of the attending physician. It is undesirable to drink a lot of water before the procedure itself, as this may interfere with the diagnosis.

In order to obtain a clear image, the patient is prohibited from moving during the procedure. The process of preparing for an MRI of the prostate gland in men causes a little excitement. Therefore, it is advisable to take a sedative before the procedure.

It is necessary to remove pins, bank cards and a hearing aid. It is better to leave all metal things outside the office.

Diagnosis process

First of all, the patient is placed on a special table, which is gradually moved inside the unit. Before turning on the tomograph, the doctor leaves the treatment room and observes the diagnostics from the next room. The entire prostate MRI process is controlled by the most modern computer. The whole procedure takes no more than 25 minutes.

If during the study the doctor uses contrast, then the man needs to be under the tomograph for about 50 minutes. To assess the composition of cells, sometimes a specialist conducts spectroscopy. MRI with contrast of the prostate does not cause pain in the patient. A man can only feel the warmth that is released by the magnetic field.

After the injection of a contrast agent, the patient feels a metallic taste in the respiratory system. There is a slight tingling in the prostate gland. After the procedure, the patient can immediately leave the office and go home. There is no need to restore the body after an MRI. The patient receives the results of the study a day after the study.

For what purpose do doctors use an additional substance?

Contrast in MRI makes it possible to accurately locate the affected cells. The colored substance enters the damaged tissues. This allows you to determine the exact size of the organ and tumors. If the patient is diagnosed with an allergy, then contrast is not used.

The main advantages of the method

In our time, the prostate is often diagnosed using MRI. Many are interested in what the MRI of the prostate shows? This type of research has a number of advantages, including:

• diagnosing a variety of diseases;
• is one of the most accurate methods for the study of oncological diseases, since with the help of MRI it is possible to evaluate the chemical structures of an organ;
• displays fabrics accurately;
• Harmless to the patient as no radiation dose is given to the patient during the examination.

It is possible to conduct research without the use of a dye, which is contraindicated in the presence of an allergic reaction in a patient.

Disadvantages of the procedure

The main disadvantages include the high cost and duration of the study. The patient does not feel any discomfort or pain during the examination.

When is MRI prohibited?

Contraindications to conduction can be both absolute and relative. The main limitation for this type of diagnostics falls on a metal or electronic object that is inside a person. In the presence of an implant, it is forbidden to carry out even with prostate cancer MRI. In the event that the specialist does not believe that the foreign body will distort the result of the tomography, then the procedure is carried out.

It is forbidden to examine a patient with an MRI while wearing a hearing aid. The presence of clips in the patient's body, which are implanted in the brain, and other metal alloy implants are the main contraindication to prostate MRI. Before the procedure, the doctor must carefully examine the patient and assess his general health. The patient must report all artificial objects that are in his body.

Causes of male diseases

Increasingly, men are discovering signs of prostatitis. This is due to the occurrence of disorders in the work of the prostate gland. There are several reasons why prostatitis may appear. MRI of the prostate gland with contrast will help to identify pathologies at an early stage of development.

The most common is infectious prostatitis, which develops due to the penetration of harmful microorganisms into the body. Bacteria or viruses enter the pelvic area and infect the prostate mucosa. As a result, it becomes inflamed and increases significantly in size. Can provoke the appearance of diseases:

In addition, there are factors due to which other diseases of the genitourinary system may appear. These include:

• regular hypothermia of the body;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• frequent change of sexual partners;
• any chronic disease;
• lowered immunity;
• irregular sex life.

To minimize the risk of prostatitis, it is worth visiting a doctor in a timely manner and undergoing a medical examination.

Complications and therapy

In the event that one of the signs of prostatitis appears, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner, since many diseases associated with the genitourinary system in men can develop and turn into complex forms. In order to reduce the risk of prostatitis and prostate adenoma, you should:

• eat right;
• avoid casual sex;
• visit the doctor regularly;
• lead a healthy lifestyle;
• exercise.

After numerous studies, doctors concluded that smoking negatively affects the functioning of the prostate gland. Nicotine irritates the mucous membrane of the organ. Given the fact that after the age of 40 men experience hormonal changes in the body, this can adversely affect the endocrine system. The main thing is not to self-medicate and not to use alternative methods of therapy, as this can harm and greatly aggravate the situation.

Massage treatment

In the early stages of the development of diseases associated with the prostate gland, treatment is much faster and more effective. In the case of an advanced disease, therapy is carried out by a surgical or laser method. If the prostate is not too enlarged, then the treatment is carried out with the help of massage.

In the process of performing massage actions, the body secretes a secret with which all harmful microorganisms come out.After a few days, the patient feels relief, as the inflammatory process and aching pain are eliminated. The effectiveness of the procedure is determined by the doctor who conducts a digital examination of the anus.

Using gloves, the urologist sticks his index finger into the patient's anus and determines the presence or absence of cracks. The doctor evaluates the size and condition of the prostate gland.

If during the examination a man feels severe and sharp pain, then the diagnosis is carried out using ultrasound. If there is a suspicion of cancer, then a tissue biopsy is performed. Diagnosis of male diseases includes:

• taking a general clinical blood test;
• smear analysis for bacterial culture;
• MRI;
• Ultrasound

In closing

Preparing for an MRI examination of the prostate gland does not require special knowledge, but it is still better to follow all the doctor's recommendations. Based on the results of the study, the urologist prescribes treatment. If the medical method of therapy did not give a positive result, then the problem is eliminated surgically.

You can determine the presence of pathology with the help of MRI of the prostate gland. Painful sensations and failure in the patient's reproductive system are considered an indication for carrying out.

Prostate MRI

Sign up for an MRI

Prostate MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive medical diagnostic method that can be used to diagnose and treat various diseases.

MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, frequency radio pulses and computer processing of the obtained data, which allows you to get detailed images of organs, soft tissues, bones and almost all internal structures of the body.

Images can be displayed on a computer monitor, transmitted electronically, printed or copied to digital media. MRI does not use ionizing radiation (X-rays).

The prostate gland is part of the organs of the male reproductive system. It is located in front of the rectum and under the bladder, and also goes around the initial part of the urethra. The prostate produces the fluid necessary for sperm to be complete. Ultrasound and MRI are the most commonly used methods for imaging the prostate (prostate).

Indications for MRI of the prostate

Most often, the indication for prostate MRI is the diagnosis of prostate cancer. An MRI of the prostate is commonly used to evaluate the extent of prostate cancer, whether the cancer is confined to the prostate or whether it has spread outside the prostate.

Prostate MRI is sometimes used to diagnose other prostate conditions, including:

Prostate MRI preparation

Prostate MRI is usually performed using a special transrectal probe that is inserted into the rectum, but it is possible to conduct an examination without such a probe. The rectum is located inside the pelvis, directly behind the prostate gland. Placing a transrectal probe (coil) in the rectum, close to the prostate, helps generate more detailed images of the prostate and surrounding structures, and allows magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, which can provide additional information about the chemical content of the cells that make up the prostate. . In addition, prostate MRI can evaluate the movement of water molecules (called water diffusion) and blood flow (perfusion imaging) within the prostate to help differentiate normal prostate tissue from abnormal tissue.

As a rule, other studies do not require food restrictions before an MRI study. If an MRI of the prostate is performed, especially with the use of a sensor, then it is necessary to limit the intake of heavy foods with fiber 12 hours before the study, and if the study is performed using a transrectal sensor, it is also necessary to clean the rectum with an enema before the study.

The patient can use special disposable clothes or stay in their own clothes during the procedure if they are loose and do not have metal fittings. volume. If contrast injection is planned, the MRI technologist needs information about the presence of an allergy to a contrast agent or bronchial asthma. The contrast agent most commonly used for MRI scans contains a metallic substance (gadolinium). And although gadolinium very rarely leads to complications, in contrast to the contrast with the content of iodine (which is used in CT studies), nevertheless, its administration is undesirable in the presence of serious somatic diseases, especially chronic kidney disease. In the presence of claustrophobia, an MRI examination is recommended to be performed on open-type devices.

All objects containing metal must be removed prior to MRI. These are things like:

MRI is contraindicated if the patient has implants or implanted electronic devices:

Parents accompanying children must also remove all metal objects and report the presence of objects containing metal in the body.

Procedure for Prostate MRI

The patient during the study lies on a movable table that moves to the center of the magnet. There are also open-type MRI machines, where the magnet does not completely surround the patient, but is open on the sides. Examinations on open-type devices (and they are predominantly low-floor) are useful for examining patients with claustrophobia or who are overweight. Recently, open-type devices with a high field (1 or more Tesla) have appeared, which make it possible to obtain a high-quality image, in contrast to the main models of open MRI, where the magnetic field is low and the image is of poorer quality. In an MRI examination of the prostate using an endorectal coil, a nurse or physician places the coil in a disposable cuff, lubricates it, and inserts it into the rectum. Once inserted, the cuff that surrounds the coil is inflated to allow it to be held in the rectum during the examination. When the examination is completed, the cuff is deflated and the coil is removed from the rectum. During the MRI procedure, the patient must lie still for a certain amount of time (average 25-30 minutes). In a study with contrast, the duration of the study will be longer. MR spectroscopy, which provides additional information about cellular chemicals, can be performed if necessary during the MRI exam and can add about 15 minutes to the exam time. The MRI procedure is completely painless and, nevertheless, some patients may feel a feeling of warmth in the area where the examination is performed, which is a normal tissue reaction to the magnetic field. During the insertion of the endorectal coil, the patient may also feel pressure in the rectum, similar to that during a digital rectal examination. As a rule, the patient is alone in the MRI room during the examination, but there is a two-way audio communication between the radiologist and the patient, and the doctor sees the patient. After undergoing an MRI procedure, the patient does not need time to adapt. After an MRI, additional examinations may be required to clarify the diagnosis (for example, scintigraphy)

Benefits and risks

Benefits

MRI poses little to no danger to the average patient when appropriate safety precautions are followed.

Restrictions for MRI of the prostate

High image quality can only be achieved if the patient is able to remain perfectly still during the MRI scan.

At large sizes, the patient may not fit in the MRI machine. The presence of an implant or metal objects may degrade the image quality.

MRI may not always be able to distinguish between cancer tissue and inflammation, or the presence of blood products in the prostate gland, which sometimes remain after prostate biopsy. To avoid diagnostic errors.

Prostate MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most informative diagnostic methods for prostate diseases. Allows you to identify acute and chronic inflammation and hyperplasia. Due to the high resolution of MRI, small tumors can be visualized, especially when examining with contrast. This allows you to establish a diagnosis at the earliest stage and prescribe an effective treatment.

Article content

Indications for prostate MRI

Prostate MRI shows

MRI can detect:

• acute and chronic inflammation;
• prostate adenoma;
• anomalies in the development of the prostate;
• abscesses, fistulas, hematomas;
• Gland tumors, their size and relationship with adjacent tissues, involvement of lymph nodes.

Preparing for MRI of the prostate

How is prostate MRI performed and how long does it take?

The procedure lasts from several minutes to half an hour. A standard study is possible on a couch inside the scanner or using a probe inserted into the rectum. If necessary, contrast is injected intravenously.

Prostate MRI Equipment

In addition to the standard high-field scanner, a transrectal coil can be used for more accurate examination. Gadolinium is used as a contrast medium.

Contraindications for prostate MRI

Absolute contraindications are:

• pacemaker;
• cochlear implant;
• ferromagnetic stents, clips, metal structures, bullet fragments;
• the presence of any clips on the vessels of the brain.

Relative contraindications for MRI are:

• claustrophobia;
• pregnancy;
• serious condition;
• the presence of tattoos made with a ferromagnetic dye.