Prostate MRI

What Is a Prostate MRI?

A prostate MRI can help find tumors because they act differently than normal tissue. It uses a combination of non-contrast and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. Contrast is injected though an IV, and the exam measures how your body absorbs it. Most exams take 45 minutes at most. 

Contrast helps improve the clarity of images to make a more accurate diagnosis. The benefits of using contrast typically outweigh any potential risk. We carefully asses your risk before giving you contrast.

How to Prepare for a Prostate MRI

Log into Patient Gateway for more details on your specific appointment.

• Arrival Time - Please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment to check in.
• Screening Call - Expect to get a phone call from our MRI staff about three days before your appointment. We will ask you questions about allergies and implants. The call helps make sure we have everything ready for you when you arrive. During this call, please let us know if you'd like interpreter services during your appointment so we have enough time to coordinate support.
• Implants - Please let our MRI staff know if you have anything metal or electronically implanted in your body. Bring information about any metal or electronic implants in your body to your appointment. We will need to make sure it is safe for you to have an MRI with it in place.
• Eating and Drinking - Please only eat a light meal within four hours of your appointment. Please do not drink caffeine for four hours before your appointment.
• Medications - You can keep taking your medicines as prescribed with water.
• Fleet Enema - Please complete a fleet enema two to four hours before your appointment.
• Claustrophobia - Ask your doctor about medicine to help you relax during your appointment if you have a feel of small spaces. We don't have any in our department that we can give you. We don't have anything in our department that we can give you. Please be mindful of your means of transportation when taking medicine to relax for your MRI.
• Clothing - Please wear clothes that are easy to change out of. All MRI patients at Mass General change into a hospital gown for safety.
• Valuables - Valuables are not allowed in the exam room. Lockers are available, but we suggest you leave your valuables at home.
• Children - If you need to bring kids to your appointment, please bring someone to watch them in the waiting room. MRI staff cannot be responsible for supervising minor children during the appointment.