Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignant growth in the prostate gland, with behavior that can range from slow-growing to aggressive.
When to get help quickly: Most prostate cancer assessment is not an emergency, but urgent review is more important if there is inability to pass urine, severe pain, significant bleeding, or symptoms suggesting spread or spinal cord pressure.
Common symptoms
Early prostate cancer may cause no symptoms, but some people develop urinary difficulty, poor flow, blood in the urine, pelvic discomfort, or symptoms from more advanced disease.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when prostate cancer is suspected or confirmed, especially for targeting biopsy, assessing local extent, staging, and evaluating whether the disease has spread.
What radiology does
MRI plays an important role in detecting suspicious areas, guiding biopsy planning, and helping with staging in selected cases.
What usually happens next
Treatment may include surveillance, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or other systemic care depending on the stage and risk group.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related articles
Related scan guides
- Prostate MRIA Prostate MRI is a specialized scan used to evaluate the prostate gland in men. It is the most advanced imaging tool available for assessing the risk of prostate cancer.
- PET-CT ScanPET-CT combines nuclear medicine and CT imaging to show both how tissues are working and where abnormal activity is located in the body. It is commonly used in cancer, and in selected heart and brain conditions.
- Prostate Cancer RadiotherapyProstate cancer radiotherapy treats the prostate or prostate bed using carefully planned radiation. It may be used as the main treatment, after surgery, or to control symptoms if cancer has spread.