My Doctor Scheduled Me For An MRI To Check Me For Prostate Cancer. What Should I Know About Having An MRI?
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An MRI test is not an X-ray, it is magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI uses pulses of a specific radio frequency, and a magnetic field and a computer to create images of all the structures within the body. The doctor is able to examine a man’s prostate gland right on the computer screen. An MRI machine allows the doctor to examine and evaluate prostate cancer far better than other types of imaging, such as in an X-ray. X-rays don’t visualize soft tissue very well unless there is a contrast medium administered. An MRI is very helpful in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, but if there is a reason that you cannot have one, an X-ray can be done with contrast material.
Preparation for the MRI
The MRI scan allows the doctor to measure the size of a prostate tumor, and the doctor can visualize metastasis of prostate cancer to other areas of the body. An MRI can be used to diagnose a prostate abscess, benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), and prostate cancer. If you are scheduled to have an MRI of your prostate, you may or may not have an endorectal coil inserted into your rectum. If your doctor plans to have the MRI done with the endorectal coil, you will be asked to give yourself an enema a few hours before the exam. You may also be asked to eat very lightly the day before your exam, so that your bowel is clear for insertion of the probe. You may also be asked to not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to the exam.
Leave your jewelry at home
It is important to not wear any metal, such as a watch or rings when you have the MRI. You may be able to wear your own clothes while having the MRI, but it is important that your clothes don’t have any metal fasteners. Anything that is metal, such as earrings, jewelry, belt buckles cannot be brought into the MRI room, because the metal will interfere with the magnetic field. However, if you will have the endorectal probe inserted into your rectum, you will likely be wearing a hospital gown.
Internal medical devices
It is also important to notify the person doing your MRI if you have any internal medical objects in your body, such as metal pins, artificial joints, pacemaker, heart valves, implanted nerve stimulators, and anything else you can think of that is implanted inside your body. Metal joints and pins and other orthopedic objects will not cause any problems with your MRI, but the radiologist should be made aware that you have them. Also tell your doctor if you have metal fillings in your teeth and metal braces. The fillings and braces may cause some distortion in the image, but other than that, there should be no problem.
Tattoos
If you have tattoos, be sure that the radiologist is made aware of them. The pigments used in some tattoos are made with iron, and the iron could heat up during an MRI can cause a burn. Your doctor might order an X-ray with a contrast medium, rather than an MRI, if you have tattoos. You may be given contrast material, so that your prostate can be visualized better. The practitioner that will be conducting your MRI will ask you if you have any health conditions. It is important that the radiologist knows if you have any illness or condition, such as kidney disease, which might prevent you from having the contrast medium administered to you.
Claustrophobia
Most people who are going to have an MRI are a little anxious about being closed in. Many hospitals and imaging clinics have open MRI machines, that don’t close you in a tube. Even with an open MRI many people are claustrophobic; if you are anxious about the MRI, you can take a light sedative prior to the procedure. Your doctor can prescribe you something light to take, such as a Xanax or Valium tablet to take an hour before the MRI is scheduled.
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