MRI of the Prostate/Pelvis

What is an MRI?

  • “Imaging of the body that uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It may be used to help diagnose or monitor treatment for a variety of conditions within the chest, abdomen and pelvis.”

Who should have an MRI of their prostate?

  • A man who has had a prior benign prostate biopsy AND his PSA continues to rise.
  • A man who has been formally diagnosed with prostate cancer AND has elected active surveillance.

Contraindications to a MRI?

  • Some cochlear implants
  • Some clips used for brain aneurysms
  • Certain metal coils placed in blood vessels
  • Older cardiac defibrillators or pacemakers
  • Someone with a retained foreign metal body that is not a medical device (for example a gun bullet)

**Please review with your healthcare provider any concerns you may have regarding a device you may have and having an MRI**

Possible results of the MRI:

  • PI-RADS 1 – Clinically significant cancer is highly unlikely to be present (7.7% risk of cancer).
  • PI-RADS 2 – Clinically significant cancer is unlikely to be present (7.7% risk of cancer).
  • PI-RADS 3 – The presence of clinically significant cancer is indeterminate (29.7% risk of cancer).
  • PI-RADS 4 – Clinically significant cancer is likely to be present (42.3% risk of cancer).
  • PI-RADS 5 – Clinically significant cancer is highly likely to be present (82.4% risk of cancer).

What the results may mean?

  • No further action is needed at this time, your PSA will continued to be monitored.
  • You may require a prostate biopsy in the operating room, this would be completed under general anesthesia (you will be asleep), because the MRI images are combined with the ultrasound images to target the areas of interest from the MRI.
  • If you have already been formally diagnosed with prostate cancer and are on active surveillance, the MRI results may be used to monitor areas of concerns, in correlation with your PSA results.

Your healthcare provider will be in contact with you regarding your results and the plan of care.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office with questions or concerns.
937-293-1622

Referencse: Oncology Learning Network. (2019). MRI-Based PIRADS Score Aids in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 27, 2020. https://www.oncnet.com/news/mri-based-pirads-score-aids-diagnosis-prostate-cancer

Radiological Society of North America. (2020). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)- Body. Retrieved March 26, 2020. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr#limitations

Tempany, C.M.C., Carroll, P.R., & Leapman, M.S. (2020). The Role of Magnectic resonance imagine in prostate cancer. In J.P. Richie, N. Vogelzang, N., & W.R. Lee (Eds.), UpToDate. Retrieved March 26, 2020. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/the-role-of-magnetic-resonance-imaging-in-prostate- cancer?search=MRI%20pelvis%20prostate%20bx&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H99677923