MRI Choices for Prostate - Normal MRI or Endorectal?

Andrew,

I am NOT a Doctor, only a patient, so this information is worth exactly what you are paying for it. I believe the MRI body scan "with and without contrast dye", both, provides an excellent set of images/report for the areas involving the prostrate. If available, get the 3T MRI, also known as the MRI 3T

YMMV

Good Luck Brother,

Chuck

Andrew:

I just had a 3T multi-parametric MRI of the prostate this past Thursday. I'm not sure what a "regular" MRI is with regards to the prostate, but as I understand it, a multi-parametric MRI for the prostate is the current state of the art. So this type of MRI provides multiple parameters such as T2, ADC, DWI, etc.

3T stands for 3 Tesla, which is the strength of the magnet. With 3T a pelvic coil can be used. With the weaker 1.5T multi-parameteric MRI, an endo-rectal coil is used.

So you might talk with your doctor, but I believe the difference that you are interested in is if you are getting a multi-parametric MRI.

Hey, I too recommend a 3T MRI of the prostate, not the whole body, if you can get it. No coil is used and the images are crystal clear. Far better than 1.5T.

That said, the KEY is not what MRI you have, but ensuring you have an expert radiologist specialising in prostate images.

I live in Australia and was offered a 3T or 1.5T. I wanted the 3T but given I had brain surgery a few years ago, 1.5T was the safe choice. I found a place with a radiologist expert in prostate images and know that a 1.5T MRI with such a radiologist is a better diagnostic tool than a 3T reported on by a humdrum radiologist.

Best wishes to you Sir.

Barney:

If you don't mind me asking, why was the lower tesla MRI safer? I thought there was no danger from an MRI as long as there wasn't any metal inside the body?

Thank you for the replies.

I just looked at the hospital website.

They have a MRI 1.5 Tesla machine, so that will have to do if I decide to get one.

Agreed, that the quality of the technician probably plays a big role in something like this.

Andrew

Alternatively, I have contacted a hospital in Thailand to see what services and equipment they have.

The Bangkok Hospital has a 3 Telsa. The price for an MRI is around $1,000 plus the time and expenses needed to travel there.

If I do the 1.5 Telsa here in Cambodia, the price is less than $600, though there are other medical facilities that do it cheaper - but not at my regular hospital/urologist of choice.

Of course, the quality of equipment and the technician may be what matters most and that can be problematic. I generally trust the hospitals in Thailand more.

Andrew