Prostate MRI

Advanced Imaging of Port Charlotte is excited to be the only facility in Charlotte County to offer the Prostate MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive way of viewing organs, soft tissues, bone and other internal body structures without the use of x-rays. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves together with a computer to create cross-sectional pictures of various parts of the body. Detailed MR images allow physicians to better evaluate parts of the body that may not be visible with other imaging methods such as x-ray, ultrasound or computed tomography (also called CT or CAT scan). MRI has proven valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions, including cancer, heart and vascular disease, stroke, and joint and musculoskeletal disorders.

The prostate is a walnut-size gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is located below the bladder, where urine is stored, and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and other fluids out of the body. The prostate helps make the milky fluid called semen that carries sperm out of the body when a man ejaculates. Ultrasound and MRI are the most commonly used techniques to image the prostate gland.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

The three most common prostate problems are:

• Infection (prostatitis)
• Enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• Prostate cancer

The prostate tends to grow bigger with age due to the development of BPH. A tumor or infection can also enlarge the prostate. All of these conditions may squeeze the urethra, causing urinary problems. Diagnosing a prostate problem may require a series of tests including an MRI exam, which can help identify abnormalities. If a biopsy has confirmed cancer, a doctor may use MRI or other imaging techniques to determine if the cancer is confined to the prostate, or if it has spread outside the walls of the prostate gland and elsewhere in the body.

This procedure is typically covered by insurance. For questions regarding your insurance coverage, please contact our Practice Administrator, Forrest Borchardt at 941.235.4646 or via email at fborchardt@advimaging.com.