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chancedav · 03-30-2011, 05:55 PM

Is there a place in SC/NC that gives mri-s in place of prostate biopsies?

Mitch128 · 03-31-2011, 01:47 PM

Prostascint Scan is prostate specific, not whole-body. Greenville's St. Francis Hospital (downtown) and, afaik, Greenville Memorial Hospital both have the necessary machines for this decidedly uncomfortable procedure.

Mitch in SC

chancedav · 03-31-2011, 01:53 PM

Thanks, Mitch! Guess it would be more comfortable than a biopsy?

IADT3since2000 · 03-31-2011, 03:16 PM

Hi chancedav,

Mitch already replied to your post below:

Quote:

Originally Posted by chancedav

Is there a place in SC/NC that gives mri-s in place of prostate biopsies?

I'm wondering if you are asking whether an MRI can now, with today's technology, take the place of a surgical prostate biopsy to determine whether you have cancer. If that is your question, the answer is no - not in SC/NC or anywhere else in the world, as of now. I doubt that will change much in the next year or two, at least.

Take care,

Jim

Johnt1 · 03-31-2011, 03:21 PM

An MRIS is usually used to stage a cancer that has already been identified by a biopsy. It is also given to those who have had multiple negative biopsies to try to identify areas of suspicion. It is not a substitute for a biopsy, only an enhancement.
JohnT

Mitch128 · 03-31-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chancedav

Thanks, Mitch! Guess it would be more comfortable than a biopsy?

No - it's an apple/orange situation. The biopsy involves a couple minutes of intense pain (I passed-out once

). The Prostascint involves lying flat & still on an xray table for 15-20 minutes with a large rectal probe inserted while pretty (why, in these situations, do they always have to be pretty?) nurses look on. In my case, the Prostascint was for the purpose of determining, yes or no, if the PCa had escaped the prostate capsule. The procedure was done post-biopsy.

I'm glad Jim (IADT3since2000) replied to your inquiry. He is the authority here; consider what he says the word.

Mitch in SC

chancedav · 03-31-2011, 04:20 PM

Thanks for taking your time to respond. I appreciate your comments.

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