Oncology

In their lifetime, 1 in 6 men will be clinically diagnosed with prostate cancer. If serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) is elevated or digital rectal exam suggests a tumor, transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy will be performed to detect potential cancer, and assess its extent, volume and aggression. But the specificity of PSA is low, and TRUS biopsy underestimates the extent and grade of prostate cancer. MRI has a role in detecting and staging prostate carcinoma, and in evaluating men with a rising PSA after therapy.

MRI is helpful to confirm and characterize adnexal lesions, and to determine disease extent and response to therapy.

MRI may distinguish normal endometrium from endometrial carcinoma, and is the modality of choice for staging of disease. MRI provides an accurate depiction of depth of myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, and detection of local lymph nodes.

MRI can provide detailed imaging of the urinary bladder to characterize masses, including size, depth of invasion, and presence of enlarged lymph nodes.

MRI is the modality of choice for local staging of rectal carcinoma and surgical planning, providing assessment of lesion size, extension into perirectal fat, proximity to the mesorectal fascia, and lymph nodes. Additionally, MRI of the abdomen may be included to assess for liver metastases.

An MR urogram can evaluate for potential etiologies of hematuria. This exam is performed by hydrating the patient during the exam to distend the collecting system.