PROSTATE MRI
Multiparametric Prostate MRI(mp-mri)
Magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of men with prostate cancer are most performed for detecting, characterizing, and staging the extent of disease to best determine diagnostic or treatment strategies. Multiparametric (Mp-MRI) is an advanced form of imaging. It uses three MRI techniques to provide anatomical pictures and information on the function of the prostate gland. Mp-MRI assesses water molecule motion (called water diffusion) and blood flow (called perfusion imaging) within the prostate. This helps your doctor tell the difference between diseased and normal prostate tissue. Multiparametric-magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) has shown promising results in diagnosis, localization, risk stratification, and staging of clinically significant prostate cancer.
If you have two or more of the following risk factors, you may benefit from prostate MRI at Shin Imaging Center. We offer this test at the Fullerton office.
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65 years of age or older
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Elevated PSA
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Abnormal digital rectal exam
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Prostate cancer family history
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Overweight Enlarged prostate
Using advanced GE 3-Tesla MRI technology, our non-invasive procedure improves patient comfort without the need for an endorectal coil or a need for a biopsy.
Our imaging protocol utilizes the latest technology and sequences
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DWI with high b-Value sequences, ranging from 1000-1600
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GE FOCUS – Specialized software allowing for small FOV DWI
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DCE (Dynamic contrast enhancement) imaging utilizing 3D axial LAVA
OnQ Prostate Overview
OnQ Prostate is an FDA-cleared post-processing application from Cortechs.ai that supports improved detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. OnQ Prostate leverages an advanced diffusion MRI technique called Restriction Spectrum Imaging (RSI), powered by Artificial Intelligence, to enable faster, more accurate PI-RADS scoring. Compared to conventional MRI alone, RSI has demonstrated superior accuracy for discriminating between aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) and normal prostate tissue, and improved correlation with Gleason Score. RSI with multiparametric (mp-MRI) improves PCa detection compared to mp-MRI alone. In addition, RSI can improve inter-reader agreement by improving consistency across radiologists.
Clinical Benefits
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Improved PI-RADS accuracy for fewer false positives and false negatives
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Non-invasive, non-contrast prostate cancer screening
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Improved inter-reader agreement
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Simplified communication of findings
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Special Instructions
You will be asked to take Fleet Enema twice the night before and the morning of your exam (preferably within four hours prior to your appointment). Your doctor will write you a prescription or you can purchase this over-the-counter at any local pharmacy. The enema helps to remove air and stool from your rectum and results in better pictures of the prostate, which helps the radiologist find cancers.
What to Expect
Prior to the MRI scan, you will be asked to remove all clothing and put on gowns.
After changing into hospital attire, your MRI technologist will place an intravenous line, also called an IV (a needle with a tubing attached in a vein) into your arm, so contrast can be injected towards the end of the exam. The MRI contrast, commonly known as “gadolinium”, helps the radiologist identify areas in the prostate that may be concerning.
You will enter the scan room and lay feet first on the imaging table. Depending on your height, your head may be located outside of the scanner. You will be lying on an MRI detector pad and your technologist will place a lightweight detector pad on your pelvis. in the area of the prostate.
These detector pads are also known as “coils”, and they contain antennae to detect the MRI signal used to make detailed pictures of your prostate.
After the technologist gives you instructions to hold still, earplugs or music will be placed on your ears. Your IV will be attached to a machine that will give you the contrast upon the technologist’s direction. This contrast injects comes near the end of the exam, and the technologist will communicate before this occurs.
Your technologist will talk to you throughout the exam. Once your technologist leaves the scan room he/she will begin the scan that makes the images. You may still hear noises from the MRI scanner, but your earplugs or music will muffle the sound.
If there is a lot of air in your bowel at the time of the first images, you will be asked to try to expel air and stool in the restroom to clear the area of the prostate for better imaging and then return to the MRI scanner.
Usually, the MRI scan takes about 45 minutes.
During the exam, you will be asked to hold still and breathe normally. Towards the end of the exam, you may be asked to hold your breath for part of the scan. Although your technologist is not in the room with you during the scan, they can see and hear you at all times, and you will be given a squeeze ball to alert them if you have any problem.
