Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a male reproductive gland. Men can encounter a few health issues of the prostate gland as they grow older. The prostate gland can become infected and tumors can begin to grow there. Annual prostate test is recommended to men who are aged 50 and above. Most of the time the tumors that grow on the prostrate are non-malignant, but occasionally they turn out to be cancerous.
Physicians used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non-invasive medical test, to assist them in diagnosing and treating patients’ medical conditions. It is a form of medical imaging that measures the response of the atomic nuclei of body tissues to high-frequency radio waves when placed in a strong magnetic field, and that produces images of the internal organs. The physician can then examine the picture on a computer monitor, transmitted electronically, printed or copied to a CD.
The surgeon may request an MRI of a prostate gland for a number of reasons:
1. It is used for an accurate look to the size of the cancer in the prostate, if it is contained within the prostate gland or if it has spread outside the gland.
2. The use of an MRI helps demonstrate if there is any proof of cancer in prostate gland or if the person has high level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The prostate gland produces PSA, which can be determined in a blood sample. It is usually raised when you have prostate cancer, but can also be raised for other reasons; for example, if you have an infection of the prostate gland (prostatitis).
3. It aids the physician to plan for radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.
4. After treatment, it is used to inspect if any of the cancer cells have grown back.
The doctor can often tell from looking at any tumors found what type of cancer it is likely to be, allowing them to determine the best treatment options much more easily. Treatment is believed to be more effective once the doctor possesses enough information about the cancer.
Robot-assisted surgery is now the most popular laparoscopic procedure and treatment for prostate cancer, offering lesser complications and faster recovery after prostatectomy. A research was made to look into the robotic prostate surgery and it was found out that 117 prostate cancer men has short stay in the hospital and were able to bounce back with their normal physical activities, including sexual intercourse. Not only does robotic surgery is popular to patients but it has also gained recognition in urologic surgery because it saves kidney function. However, benefits may not be as realistic as it seem.
References:
prostate-cancer.org/mri-in-prostate-cancer/
radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=mr_prostate
insideradiology.com.au/pages/view.php?T_id=122#.UtPhDdIW2lM
cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-diagnosis
