Prostate Diagnostics

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, or mpMRI, is today one of the most important tools for the early detection and assessment of prostate carcinoma, the most common cancer in men. The examination involves no ionizing radiation and rests on three pillars: high-resolution anatomical imaging, assessment of tissue perfusion, and measurement of cell density. By combining this information, suspicious areas can be reliably localized and benign changes distinguished from potentially malignant ones.

mpMRI is particularly valuable when PSA levels are elevated, when a palpation finding is unclear, or when there is a family history of the disease. Findings are assessed using an internationally standardized scoring system, the PI-RADS score, which enables uniform and comparable risk evaluation. A key advantage of the method is that unnecessary tissue biopsies can be avoided: if the MRI shows no suspicious areas, the risk of missing a tumor requiring treatment is low. Conversely, when findings are suspicious, a biopsy can be precisely guided by overlaying the MRI images with ultrasound, which significantly increases the detection rate of clinically relevant carcinomas. mpMRI also provides crucial information for staging, treatment planning, and follow-up monitoring after therapy.