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As the second most common cancer affecting men worldwide, prostate cancer is a haunting reality for many men. But it doesn’t have to be. Early detection significantly improves prognosis, and recent advances in medical imaging technology, like a prostate MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), machine learning, and artificial intelligence have made early detection more accessible than ever.
An MRI for prostate cancer is a powerful tool for screening. It may even help find lesions before symptoms arise. In some cases, an MRI can take the place of more invasive studies like a biopsy.
But unlike computed tomography (CT scans) and X-rays, which use harmful ionizing radiation, an MRI machine uses magnetic fields and radio waves as a means to create detailed images of soft tissues. This makes it a safer choice for getting high-quality prostate imaging.
Chances are you’re not thinking about your prostate every day. And you’re not alone if you don’t know much about this gland and its functions.
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system, located deep inside the pelvis, just below the bladder. Imagine a small donut-shaped organ that encircles the tubes carrying urine from the bladder and semen produced by the seminal vesicles.
As the term “gland” suggests, the prostate also secretes a liquid that merges with semen in the ejaculatory duct. Within the liquid is an enzyme called PSA or prostate-specific antigen. PSA also offers important clues to your overall prostate health.
When the cells in the prostate gland begin to grow uncontrollably, cancerous tumors may form. Many types of prostate cancer grow slowly and initially stay localized within the prostate gland.
Depending on your age and the type of prostate cancer it is, you may not need surgery or intensive treatment. However, there are rare, more aggressive forms of prostate cancer that spread quickly. In either circumstance, catching it early is your best strategy.
Early diagnosis of prostate cancer, when lesions are still confined to the prostate gland, offers a higher chance of successful treatment. Once cancer spreads outside the prostate gland, treatment becomes more difficult, and it can significantly affect a person's life expectancy.
This is supported by information from a 2020 article published in Cancers which discusses the fact that the 5-year survival rate of patients with localized prostate tumors is nearly 100% but drops to 28% when the tumor metastasizes and spreads to other locations despite intensive therapy.
Metastasis (spreading) occurs when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor of origin and travel through the lymphatic system to another location. In many cases, prostate symptoms only manifest after cancer has reached advanced stages, making prostate screening even more important. When symptoms do occur, the following are the most common:
If you’re over the age of 50, have a family history of prostate cancer, or are experiencing symptoms related to prostate dysfunction, your doctor may order a blood test to measure the amount of PSA circulating in your bloodstream. While healthy levels vary based on age and ethnicity, significantly elevated levels may raise concerns.
A crucial part of understanding prostate cancer involves prostate-specific antigen levels and the Gleason Score. The PSA test measures the blood levels of PSA, a protein generated by the prostate gland's cells. Higher PSA levels could indicate prostate cancer. On the other hand, Gleason grading determines the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. A higher Gleason Score points towards a higher chance of the cancer spreading.
In the past, if you had a positive PSA test or an abnormal rectal exam, the next step would be an invasive and painful tissue biopsy. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t target specific areas or known abnormalities. MRI scans can reveal areas of concern that may warrant further investigation and may also help to rule out suspicious findings, thus helping you avoid an invasive biopsy.
Screening refers to the process of identifying potential health disorders or diseases in people who do not have any symptoms. The goal of screening is to catch diseases at their earliest stages when they are more treatable.
In the case of prostate cancer, screening may involve a prostate MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnetic field to create radio waves that are received, digitized, and displayed in real-time. When there are tissue abnormalities, its composition changes, so the images reflect areas with abnormalities.
MRI images can reveal tiny changes in the prostate that suggest cancer, playing a pivotal role in early detection. Moreover, it can help discern whether cancer has extended beyond the prostate to help determine the most effective treatment strategy.
Catching prostate cancer early can lead to less aggressive treatment methods, such as active surveillance, radiation therapy, or minimally invasive surgery. These options may result in fewer side effects than their more aggressive counterparts, reinforcing the importance of regular prostate health screenings, including MRI.
There’s no doubt that MRI technology is highly effective in detecting prostate cancer, as well as other conditions such as infections and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
BPH is a benign enlargement of the prostate that affects many older and middle-aged men and may negatively impact their quality of life.
MRIs are less invasive than a prostate biopsy and offer quicker results. Biopsy results can take several weeks before you can follow up, while MRI reports are often available within a week.
In terms of what it’s like inside an MRI, the machine itself is a large, tube-shaped device with a hollow core. You'll lie on a table that slides into the MRI machine during the procedure.
The radiologist technician will take a series of images using powerful magnets and radio waves. Depending on the study area, the test may take between 20 minutes and one hour. Let your technician know if you have claustrophobia or have difficulty staying in one position for extended periods.
During the scan, you won't feel anything but might hear loud thumping or tapping noises from the machine. For a better experience, ask your technician about wearing earplugs. Some facilities offer specialized headphones that allow you to listen to your favorite music streaming service or YouTube channel.
Since MRI machines use large magnets, be sure to remove any metal, such as jewelry or piercings. Let your technologist know if you have tattoos, permanent makeup, medical or dental devices, embedded metal (shrapnel), or any implanted metal body modification.
When you have a prostate MRI with IV contrast, the process begins similarly to the non-contrast MRI. However, partway through the scan, the technologist or radiology nurse will inject contrast media into your IV.
The contrast dye helps to enhance the quality of the images by highlighting certain tissues, and it's particularly useful in assessing blood vessels and detecting small tumors. After the injection, the scan will continue for another 20 to 30 minutes.
MRI contrast agents are gadolinium-based and generally considered safe. However, some people might have an allergic reaction to the dye, and in very rare cases, it can cause disease in people with kidney problems called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Hence, it's crucial to inform your healthcare provider if you have any kidney problems or allergies. If you have any concerns, reach out to your provider prior to your appointment.
The type of MRI scan (with or without contrast) will be determined based on the specific information your doctor needs. Not all prostate MRI scans will require the use of a contrast agent. In some cases, a multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), which uses different types of MRI sequences to create a high-quality picture of the prostate, is conducted.
A multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a special type of scan that gives a detailed 3D picture of your prostate, which is better than a standard MRI scan. It's done using a computer program that can combine different types of images, making it easier to spot signs of prostate cancer.
This type of MRI combines a traditional T2-weighted MRI with functional MRI techniques like diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). According to a 2019 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), this type of MRI can reduce the need for biopsies.
The images generated from your prostate MRI are complex and nuanced — and it can be a time-consuming process to interpret the images and spot abnormalities. This is where AI comes in.
Some facilities use cutting-edge AI technology to assist the radiologist by quickly analyzing your MRI scans. The use of AI and machine learning in the field of radiology for advanced feature analysis is an emerging area of imaging science called radiomics.
It’s important to understand that while AI can assist in the interpretation of MRI data, the ultimate responsibility still falls to the radiologist. AI simplifies the workflow through automation. This makes the radiologist a bit more efficient and allows them to focus their attention on areas the AI algorithm brought to their attention. AI is a tool that saves time and may increase accuracy but it doesn’t replace a radiologist’s expert diagnostic skills.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) makes evidence-based recommendations for prostate cancer screening that aim to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment, including:
Patients deemed moderate to high-risk may need to screen earlier or more regularly. Groups considered to have higher risk factors may include:
Remember, these are general guidelines. If you have any of the risk factors listed, ask your medical provider how often you should have an MRI of the prostate or other screening.
Don’t know where to start? A prostate cancer risk calculator may help make sense of your prostate cancer risk.
While every case is different, your doctor may want you to see a urologist who specializes in male reproductive health. It’s possible that you’ll need to undergo a prostate biopsy to take tissue samples from your prostate.
There are multiple types or approaches to prostate biopsies, including:
The goal of prostate cancer treatment is remission, but this is not always possible. In some cases, the focus is to prevent it from spreading into lymph nodes and surrounding tissue. The treatment plan for clinically significant prostate cancer is individualized and will vary depending on the patient's specific circumstances.
Once cancer is confirmed and staged, an oncologist — a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment — will discuss treatment options. A radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissue. Other cancer treatments may include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
In cases of low-risk prostate cancer, active surveillance or "watchful waiting" might be recommended. This approach involves monitoring the cancer closely and initiating treatment only if the cancer shows signs of progressing. The image quality of a prostate MRI plays a critical role in this process, enabling any changes in the cancer to be detected promptly.
Ezra’s prostate AI technology, known as Plexo, has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in interpreting prostate MRI scans. Plexo uses algorithms trained on large datasets of prostate MRIs to help ]highlight areas that can be of concern.
Ezra’s technology can create a detailed 3D model of the prostate to aid in the identification of potential issues. If something suspicious is found, Ezra's team of radiologists will further analyze the results and recommend next steps.
Prostate cancer is a formidable adversary, but with early detection and modern medical strategies, it’s an adversary that can be overcome. Knowing the risk factors and understanding the crucial role of advanced screening tools like prostate MRIs is a game-changer. Technology has the capacity to reveal the smallest changes that may find cancer earlier.
While these technological developments are monumental in the early detection of prostate cancer, remember that it’s a collective effort. Regular check-ups, living a healthy lifestyle, and keeping an open line of communication with your healthcare provider are equally important.
If you’re health conscious and care to stay ahead of the curve, consider Ezra’s prostate cancer screening scan. It includes a non-invasive MRI scan that takes less than an hour. The scan is designed to identify any abnormalities or potential tumors in the prostate gland.
Taking care of yourself has never been easier. Book your appointment for a prostate MRI online today.
