Prostate cancer develops in the small walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid in males. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men, affecting about one in six men in the United States.

Prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and remains confined to the prostate gland where there may not be initial harm. Some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, while other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. If detected early, successful treatment of prostate cancer greatly improves.

If symptoms arise or your prostate cancer screening tests come back positive, your doctor may order an imaging test to better evaluate for the most accurate means of treatment.

You may also need further tests to help determine if the cancer has spread. Many men don't require additional studies and can directly proceed with treatment based on the characteristics of their tumors and the results of their pre-biopsy PSA tests.

Procedures

Ultrasound

An Ultrasound study not only can help indicate if cancer is present, but also may reveal whether the disease has spread to nearby tissues.

Bone Scan

A bone scan may be ordered to take a picture of your skeleton in order to determine whether cancer has spread to the bone. Prostate cancer can spread to any bones in your body, not just those closest to your prostate, such as your pelvis or lower spine.

CT

A Computed Tomography (CT) scan produces a series of detailed cross-sectional images of your body and can identify enlarged lymph nodes or abnormalities in other organs. However, a CT scan cannot determine whether the visible problems are due to cancer. Therefore, CT scans are most useful when combined with other tests.

MRI

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test produces detailed, cross-sectional images of your body using magnets and radio waves. An MRI can help detect evidence of the possible spread of cancer to lymph nodes and bones.

Interventional Radiology

Inland Imaging Interventional Radiologists provide amazing new medical technologies such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation to treat some cancers. In either procedure, several needle probes are inserted directly through the skin into a tumor, using a series of real-time computed tomography (CT) images to guide the probe. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound sometimes are used instead of CT scans to view the procedure.

Once the probe is positioned in the center of the tumor, the radiologist applies electrical heat in the form of radio waves to “vaporize” the tumor or applies cold energy to kill the abnormal tissue.