Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Prostate cancer is common in men and involves several risk factors. There is much diagnostic medical imaging that helps in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer and they prove to be good options. A prostate is a walnut-shaped gland in males that plays a critical role in transporting sperm. It’s a common cancer type found in men.
Cancer grows slowly, however, if no treatment is given to the patient, then the disease can spread to the other organs aggressively. One of the best conditions to treat prostate cancer is when it is located in the prostate and is detected in the early stages.
Symptoms of prostate cancer are:
- Fast weight loss without any reason
- Urination problem
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Blood in urine
- Blood in semen
The diagnostic medical imaging for prostate cancer is usually an ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound scan is a common procedure that is done with the help of a small probe. The probe is inserted into the rectum and sound waves of the ultrasound tell the condition of the prostate gland.
Biopsy: Biopsy is another type of diagnostic medical imaging that involves the extraction of the prostate tissue for analysis. The analysis is carried out in the lab to see if the cancer is present in the cells or not.
MRI: Another type of diagnostic medical imaging is the MRI that uses radio and magnetic waves to form pictures of the organ. An MRI can tell the doctor if the prostate tissue samples need to be removed or not. It helps the doctor in getting a deep analysis of the tissue.
The diagnostic medical imaging for prostate cancer is improving day by day to improve the treatment chances of patients in advanced cancer stages. Some of the screening tests include:
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: PSA is checked by drawing some blood out of your vein on the arm. The test is simple and the PSA level predicts the amount of a substance produced by the prostate gland. Normal amounts of PSA do not predict any harm; however, elevated levels predict enlargement, cancer, inflammation, or an infection.
Further testing is usually required to confirm the diagnosis.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): The test is done manually by the doctor in which the doctor inserts a gloved lubricated finger in the rectum. The prostate is right adjacent to the rectum. The doctor checks the prostate gland for any abnormalities in the shape, size, or texture. If found anything, further tests are done to confirm the cause of the abnormality.
Tests to Confirm Cancer Spread
Confirming the cancer stage comes second to diagnosis. Gleason score and genomic testing are usually done to check the aggressiveness of cancer. The more aggressive cancer, the more are the chances of the spread to other organs.
When it’s an aggressive type of cancer, then the doctor runs a few tests to see how far cancer has spread in the body. For instance, tests like PET scan, CT scan, bone scan, MRI, and ultrasound are done for it. Not all patients require all of these tests, but they play a huge role in diagnostic medical imaging for prostate cancer.
The information collected from the tests helps the doctor to prepare a treatment plan for the patient as per the cancer stage. The patient has to keep taking some tests throughout the treatment period to keep a track of the progress.
Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
Even though prostate cancer is quite common, but it can be treated if diagnosed at early stages. Sometimes when the cancer is low-grade, it does not require any kind of treatment or intervention. Active surveillance, follow-ups, etc. are enough to manage this type of cancer. However, if cancer spreads, then there is a need to opt for proper treatment.
Some options are:
Surgery: Once the diagnostic medical imaging is done for prostate cancer, your doctor might recommend you to completely remove the prostate gland. However, the doctor will assess if the surgery is your best option. Aggressive prostate cancer might not be treated with surgery alone.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is an excellent treatment modality for localized cancers. Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells with high-powered energy. External radiation therapy is usually done when the cancer is localized to the prostate, however, brachytherapy (radiation placed inside your body) involves the use of radioactive sources that are placed in your body for a long period of time. It’s the treatment plan when cancer has spread to other organs.
Immunotherapy: It’s a kind of treatment that involves the use of the immune system to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy interferes with the process of cancer-producing process and fights them.
Chemotherapy: If cancer has spread to the other areas of the body, then the best option is chemotherapy in which the drugs are administered to kill cancer cells.
These are not the only options for prostate cancer, but these are the famous options to treat the disease. Diagnostic medical imaging has paved the way for medical professionals to identify the illness and provide a good treatment against it.
Final Words
If you’re in search of a diagnostic imaging network, then AQMDI is the one that you should look for. It’s a New Jersey imaging center where you can get your tests done by specialized people with years of experience. We provide the best diagnostic imaging services to patients.
Our diagnostic medical imaging facility provides all types of tests for patients. If you’re in search of a trustworthy and affordable imaging center, then AQMDI is the one for you. We take medical imaging and our patient’s safety and comfort seriously. Book your appointment with us today!