Prostate imaging provides a vital role in identifying various pathologies, including enlargement, infection and early detection of carcinoma. It is also crucial for staging malignancy.
At Sunshine Coast Radiology, we provide a comprehensive prostate imaging service.
Prostate MRI
Prostate Multi-Parametric MRI is a non-invasive examination that has emerged recently as the best examination available for detecting and provide information about prostate concerns including significant (‘harmful’) prostate cancer earlier.
If a patient’s PSA is elevated, it is considered by Urologists to be advantageous to have an MRI prior to a biopsy for the investigation of prostate cancer. In some patients MRI can be so convincingly negative that we can say more reliably than with biopsy that there is no significant cancer in the prostate. This means the Urologist may decide not to proceed to a biopsy. The MRI will in essence give a clear diagnosis. The Urologist may still proceed to a biopsy, and the MRI imaging and report will add considerably to the certainty that a significant cancer is not missed by the biopsy.
It also enables accurate evaluation of spread outside the prostate gland, which is important when it comes to treatment options. Understanding the extent of disease enables the surgeon to determine whether it is possible to preserve the delicate arteries and nerves, which are essential for maintaining sexual function and bladder control.
Prostate MRI is available at:
Rockhampton
QTV House, 5 Aquatic Place, North Rockhampton, QLD, 4701.
Rockhampton Hospital
Canning Street, Rockhampton, QLD, 4700.
Gladstone
13 Dawson Rd, Gladstone, QLD, 4680.
Ultrasound of the Prostate
Ultrasound of the prostate uses sound waves to produce pictures of the prostate gland and to help diagnose symptoms such as difficulty urinating or an elevated blood test result. It’s also used to investigate a nodule found during a rectal exam, detect abnormalities, and determine whether the gland is enlarged. Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.