What is an MRI prostate scan?
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of your prostate. This allows us to detect or rule out potential tumour, or monitor changes in the prostate over time. It is safe and painless, and does not involve any radiation.
How to prepare for an MRI prostate scan
It is important your bowels and bladder are empty before the scan.
Please arrive 20 minutes before your MRI scan time. You need to empty your bowl of any stool (poo) and gas. This is important as if there is any gas or stool in your rectum, we may miss a tumour. Even if you feel like you don’t want to empty your bowels, we recommend you sit on the toilet and try. This will move any gas which could blur the images.
To make sure you have the best image quality, avoid sexual activity that leads to ejaculation for 3 days before your MRI scan. This allows the seminal vesicles (glands next to the prostate) to naturally dilate (widen) which allows them to be seen clearly so they can be reviewed for a tumour.
You can eat and drink as usual, but if possible try to avoid things that cause bloating or gas such as fizzy drinks, coffee, strong black tea, beans, onions, or broccoli for 24 hours before your appointment.
Before the scan you will fill out a questionnaire about your health. Because the scan uses strong magnets, we would like to know if you have any metal, implants, jewellery, piercings, dentures, or hearing aids. We will then ask you to change into a hospital gown and put your belongings into a locker.
What will happen during my MRI prostate scan?
The MRI will take about 30 minutes. We will ask you to like as still as possible on a table. The table will move slowly into the scanner which is shaped like a doughnut. Please tell the radiographer if you are claustrophobic so they can help you feel as comfortable as possible.
The machine won’t cause any pain but is noisy and you may feel warm. You will be able to speak to the radiographer through an intercom to let them know if you have any issues during the scan.
Before your scan we may insert a cannula (tiny plastic tube) into a vein in your arm. This allows the radiographer to inject a contrast dye to make the prostate and other organs clearer on the scan. The dye is incredibly safe, but we do want to know if you have any kidney problems, asthma, or allergies. Please tell the radiographer if you have any of these.
Hycosine butylbromide (Buscopan)
We may give a muscle relaxant called Buscopan before starting the examination. This helps us see the prostate better by reducing bowel movement during the scan. Like all medicines this can cause side effects. Most people have none but if they do they go away quickly. If you have blurred vision, please make sure your vision has returned to normal before driving.
Very rarely Buscopan causes a type of glaucoma called acute angle closure glaucoma. If your eyes get very painful and red within 48 hours of the injection, seek urgent medical advice.
Also very rarely Buscopan can cause urine retention (inability to pass urine/pee). Please seek medical advice if this happens.
© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published October 2024. Review due October 2027. NBT003709.
