London: 0203 519 8998    Stockport: 0161 738 1740    Surrey: 01932 504 999   Sussex: 01293 534 043
Refer a PatientRequest a Scan
Medical Imaging Partnership
  • Patient Services
    • Request a private appointment
    • Private GP Appointments
      • COVID-19 Antibody Testing
    • Consultant clinics
      • Total Orthopaedics London
    • X-Ray
    • DEXA Scans
    • Physiotherapy and osteopathy
    • Ultrasound and Interventional Procedures
      • Ultrasound Guided Steroid Injections
    • 3T MRI
    • MRI
    • MRI for Prostate
  • Make a referral
  • Locations
    • London
    • Cheshire
    • Surrey
      • Prime Health Weybridge
    • Sussex
      • Brighton
      • Crawley
      • Crowborough
      • Haywards Heath
    • Other Sites
      • CISC
      • Horder Healthcare Seaford
      • The Vale Primary Care Centre
      • Eastbourne
      • Maidstone
  • For Imaging Professionals
    • Who we are and what we do
    • InteleConnect
    • InteleViewer
  • About
    • Careers
    • News
    • Treatment Packages and Offers
    • Quality Standards
    • Comments and complaints
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Prostate cancer is a notoriously tricky disease to diagnose and is now a bigger killer than breast cancer.

If someone is at risk of having prostate cancer, a GP may suggest they have a biopsy. However, the most commonly used diagnostic test, the trans-rectal ultrasound guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy, can miss up to one in five cancers according to the NHS.

There have been huge improvements in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in recent years, the most significant being the introduction of multiparametric MRI scans (mpMR). The advantages of mpMR have been demonstrated by the PROMIS Trial which compared MRI with the standard TRUS biopsy. A summary of this trial can be found in The Lancet. In this study, all scans were performed using a 1.5T MRI.

What this trial showed is that multiparametric MRI has a high sensitivity (good at identifying significant cancer) and low likelihood of a false negative result when the scan is reported as normal but in reality, prostate cancer is present. MRI is, therefore, a justifiable test which should be part of the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway.

What is a 3T MRI scan?

A 3-Telsa (3T) MRI scanner is significantly more powerful than the more common 1.5T scanners and the 3T magnetic field provides exceptional anatomic detail.

The increased image clarity revealed by 3T is particularly beneficial for prostate imaging and this high quality enables specialist experienced radiologists to differentiate between benign and potentially malignant conditions with confidence. Working collaboratively, the radiologist and urologist will be able to provide you with earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment allocation, with subsequent improvements in treatment outcome. Those with a negative or normal scan will also be reassured that there is no cancer present and therefore no cause for concern.

The importance of an accurate diagnosis

Most men as they get older will have some low-grade prostate cancer. These are often small and difficult to see on imaging or find on biopsy. The reason that an accurate diagnosis is so important is that it will enable us to offer the best possible advice for our patients. A pre-biopsy MRI will enable targeted sampling of any areas of concern and will, therefore, improve the quality of the biopsy samples. This, in turn, will enable better decision-making. Some cancers will be safely monitored and others will require treatment.

No significant cancer

Following their multiparametric MRI, many men will be told that they do not have any significant prostate cancer, and will be returned to the care of their GP or urologist for regular follow-up.

Active surveillance

Some men will have changes which might be significant cancer and will subsequently undergo a prostate biopsy. The cancer may be low grade and the resultant recommendation be a follow-up MRI 9-12 months later to reassess the lesion. Men can remain on active surveillance for many years with no significant changes to the cancer.

Focal treatment

Some men may have a significant cancer which is restricted to one part of their prostate. This may lead to that part of their prostate being treated using one of the following technologies:

High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound (HIFU)
Cryotherapy
Electroporation

With a greater understanding of the location and volume of the prostate cancer, urologists can also consider treating the affected part of the prostate rather than having to destroy it all. If carefully selected, this can result in a safe alternative to the traditional more radical approaches which are more likely to result in side effects.

Radical treatment

Some patients will need to have the whole prostate treated. This can be done surgically or with radiotherapy or by brachytherapy. Having high-quality MR images of the prostate enables the specialist to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment and to plan the treatment itself; often resulting in a better outcome.

Next steps

If you are worried about prostate cancer you should see your GP and discuss having a blood test and examination. They can refer you to a consultant urologist if appropriate. The urologist will discuss all options with you and can refer you for a multiparametric Prostate MRI scan. After the scan, a decision can be made regarding the need for a biopsy. At least 30 percent of men will have a completely normal scan and so will not proceed to biopsy.

Back to Blog

Categories

  • Company News
  • General News
  • Health Advice
  • MRI
  • Other News
  • Pain Management
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Sports Injury
  • Staff Focus

News by Month

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • October 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • March 2015
  • April 2014
  • November 2010
  • August 2010

PHONE: 01293 534 043

FAX: 01293 528 196

EMAIL: CONTACTUS@MEDICALIMAGING.ORG.UK

PATIENT SERVICES

LOCATIONS

ABOUT

MAKE A REFERRAL

FOR IMAGING PROFESSIONALS

CONTACT

Medical Imaging Partnership Ltd
Unit 7, The Pavilions, Brighton Road, Pease Pottage,
Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9BJ

Company Registration Number 6713311 England • Privacy Policy

PHONE: 01293 534 043

FAX: 01293 528 196

EMAIL: CONTACTUS@MEDICALIMAGING.ORG.UK

PATIENT SERVICES

MAKE A REFERRAL

LOCATIONS

FOR IMAGING PROFESSIONALS

ABOUT

CONTACT

Privacy Policy

Medical Imaging Partnership Ltd
Unit 7, The Pavilions, Brighton Road, Pease Pottage,
Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9BJ

Company Registration Number 6713311 England

Scroll to top