Magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in males and the second leading cause of cancer related death in men. The successful management of prostate cancer requires early detection ,appropriate risk assessment and optimum treatment. The routine tools for early diagnosis and localization of cancer with the prostate include digital rectal examination and assessment of serum prostate specific antigen followed by trans rectal ultrasonographically guided biopsy. However because of the low sensitivity and specifity of these detection techniques a substantionalefeeort has been made to develop and evaluate new diagnostic techniques. Compared with the results of transrectal US, magnetic resonance imaging results have demonstrated a much higher sensitivity. With the recently published national institute of clinical excellence guidelines, it is more generally accepted that MRI is the imaging method of choice for staging prostate cancer in patients for whom radical treatment is being considered.MRI can locate the site of intraprostatic disease which may prove useful in planning disease, targeting therapies currently being developed. The advantage of this technique include the direct depiction of tumor vascularity and possibly obreation of an endorectal coil .This article reviews the current applications MRI in clical practices and discuss the promise of these modalities for improving prostate cancer management.