MRI scans for prostate cancer
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. It uses magnetism and radiowaves to create a picture of what’s inside your body. A positive biopsy is required to definitively diagnose prostate cancer.
Recent developments in MRI technology have allowed radiographers to create more accurate scans. This incudes the development of multiparametric MRI scans (mpMRI).
“I didn’t have a multi parametric [MRI]. It was a conventional imaging, and that didn’t show anything on the normal MRI…..it was from the biopsy how I was diagnosed.The biopsy showed that I had prostate cancer, and fortunately, because I caught it early, it was Gleason six, which is the early stages.”
Alphonso Archer
The Focal Therapy Clinic patient
Multiparametric MRI (prostate MRI)
A 2017 study showed that mpMRI was significantly better at identifying clinically significant prostate cancer compared to biopsy alone, reduced the number of men having biopsies unnecessarily by a quarter and improved the accuracy of taking the biopsy samples.
mpMRI combines MRI technologies to create an image of your prostate gland that is very clear and has high contrast. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, we cannot confirm whether you are suitable for focal therapy or not until we have seen and reviewed your mpMRI in our MDT.
During an mpMRI, you will also be injected with a contrast agent, to make the image even clearer. This makes it easier to identify a tumour and lesions, and determine whether it is localised (within the prostate) or whether it has spread. Because of how important mpMRI is in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is now also known simply as “prostate MRI”.
Around 80% of hospitals can provide an mpMRI, but you may only be offered a biparametric MRI. This is less expensive but is also less sensitive.
Fusion MRI
Another development in the use of MRI to treat prostate cancer is fusion MRI. This is where your MRI scan is used in conjunction with a live ultrasound and can be used to guide your surgeon during a biopsy or during your treatment.
In a fusion MRI, our expert radiographer marks your prostate, your tumour and lesions, your seminal vesicles and your urethra on your scan results. In a fusion biopsy, a grid is also added. During your biopsy, your MRI scan is overlayed onto your live ultrasound, and a grid-shaped needle guide is used to accurately sample the target area. With a transperineal fusion MRI-guided biopsy, there is very little downtime or soreness afterwards, and it’s much more accurate in confirming a suspected diagnosis of prostate cancer.
During fusion focal therapy, the MRI scan is overlayed onto your live ultrasound and this is used to guide your treatment; for HIFU, this is an ultrasound probe, and for NanoKnife, it is needles. This allows your surgeon to target your tumour very accurately, increasing the effectiveness of your treatment and reducing the risk of damaging any other tissue.
Learn more about how focal therapy accurately targets prostate cancer
Learn more about how focal therapy preserves your quality of life
To speak to one of our expert consultant urologists and learn about what treatment might be right for you
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Any questions?
If you’ve got any questions about your prostate cancer diagnosis or want to know more about HIFU or NanoKnife, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable team.
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