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MRI imaging is based on the imaging of
hydrogen in different compounds in the
human body. The two most common compounds are water and fat.
Water and fat provide the basis for
the beautiful MRI images that can be obtained today
with state of the art equipment. In
prostate imaging these images can often be helpful in
demonstrating the presence of cancer
within the prostate gland, as well as spread outside the
gland or so called "extracapsular
extension." MRI is often very helping in demonstrating
enlarged metastatic lymph nodes and metastatic disease to
bone.
MRI can be use to help state prostate
cancer, or as a problem solver in cases
of an elevated PSA. Prostate
spectroscopy serves as an additional imaging tool which can
be part of the same exam. Instead of
looking at hydrogen in water and fat, it looks
at hydrogen in compounds which are in much smaller
concentrations but which are still
significant.
Prostate spectroscopy looks at hydrogen in the
compounds choline, creatine, and citrate in
particular. These compounds are important
in the prostate because in prostate cancer they often change
with choline becoming elevated and
citrate becoming reduced. While
spectroscopy is an old technique used by chemists for many
years, spectroscopy of the human body
has been in slow evolution over the last twenty
years. Prostate spectroscopy is now possible at select sites
around the world.
The technique
requires specialized MRI scanners which have more uniform
magnetic fields to better detect these scarce compounds.
these scanners are "super
scanners" which can perform the routine imaging as well
as the spectroscopy. These scanner often
produce better "pictures" because the
quality of their magnetic fields is better than regular MRI scanners.
The technique of prostate
spectroscopy also requires specialized computer hardware
and software, and a dedicated expert staff. SimonMed is one
of these limited sites around the
world, and we have a dedicated experienced staff
to perform this study.
Most insurance
plans will pay for the routine pelvic or prostate MRI
imaging if a clear indication is given. these
plans generally at this time will not
pay for the spectroscopy which adds about 15 minutes of the
general exam. Sometimes it can take several
years before insurance will cover the
expense of new technique even though there is scientific
literature to support its use. Indications
for this technique may include an elevated PSA, cancer
staging, and cancer imaging following
treatment.
For compete information about our many
available procedures, please call us at 480-614-8555 or
email us at info@simonmed.com. |
