This year, over 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed. Prostate cancer is the third leading cancer among males. It is often a silent killer, as it rarely shows signs or symptoms until it has developed maturely and even metastasized into other areas of the body.1 This year alone, it will take over 33,330 men’s lives. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Prostate cancer can be diagnosed and treated effectively. Early diagnosis is critical and achievable with the right steps. Due to accurate diagnosis, 3 million men in the US are prostate cancer survivors.
Dr. Kevin Kadakia is a Fellowship-Trained Radiologist with a subspecialty in Abdominal Pelvic Radiology. We spoke to him to find out more about prostate cancer diagnostic tools and how Radiology Regional diagnose cancer and other abnormalities at a more vigorous rate due to technological advances and subspecialty trained radiologists.
Dr. Kadakia explained, “Generally speaking, prostate issues predominately can be detected early if they take the right steps. Because one of the most common cancers for men is of the prostate, it’s essential that they begin screenings at age 50 or sooner, depending on risk factors, symptoms and family history. If there is high risk or a family history of prostate cancer, it is recommended men start screening at age 40 to 45.
“The good news is that it is detectable and treatable if acted on quickly. At Radiology Regional, we have reduced the death rate significantly from years past by regularly screening individuals and doing so with advanced technology and expert in-house radiologists trained for abdominal pelvic abnormalities.
“After the age of 50, a PSA blood test is recommended to check levels, yet, sometimes these can be elevated due to a list of other issues, such as an enlarged prostate (typically due to aging), but this usually results in benign hyperplasia and is unrelated to cancer.
“Other issues can make your PSA levels go up as well like taking a daily aspirin or being overweight. If the PSA is over 2.5, or if you are at high risk, patients should receive additional screenings and be sent to a urologist. Urologists specialize in the urinary, prostate, and reproductive organs, and they will determine if a patient needs diagnostic imaging with MRI.
“Years ago, providers did not have the advancements that we do today, and prostate biopsies were done with numerous needles (approximately 30), which was done blindly. Most prostate cancer tumors are under 1 cm in size, so this blind, shooting-in-the-dark technique was, unfortunately, unable to detect most cancer.
“Today, with the advancements of MRIs, it’s changed the entire field, but in saying that, you must have the right MRI. They are not all the same. Traditional MRI machines will not pick up the intricate size of many tumors or other abnormalities. It’s imperative that patients ask their imaging center if they use a 3T MRI (3 Tesla). In southwest Florida, very few radiology centers have a 3T MRI. We are the largest center with 3T, and we do the majority of prostate screenings in the area, so patients can trust that we are the experts for quantity and quality. A 1.8T MRI is not going to detect the tiny areas that a 3T MRI will, so for patients getting screenings, they need to understand this technology is significant in their diagnosis, their treatment, and their survivorship.
“If caught early, prostate cancer treatment is minimal compared to the later stages, or if it’s metastasized into other organs. Once we detect cancer, the urologist will have the patient come in for a biopsy that can be targeted specifically to the area of concern. This eliminates the guessing game. The biopsy is performed under guided-ultrasound, and the pathology results are typically back in 3 to 5 days.
“The 3T MRI can also detect the tumor’s size, if it has spread, metastasized, or if it’s confined to an area in the prostate. If a patient does have an adenocarcinoma diagnosis, the treatment will be high-frequency ultrasound, radiation, or prostatectomy depending on the stage. It might also be untreatable if it’s a late diagnosis, but those can often be treated with hormonal medications. Most people can lead a very normal life after diagnosis and treatment.
“I want to make sure patients know that they are getting a 3T MRI, and I want them to know who is reading their images. If it’s not a trained subspecialist, it can be very challenging to get a proper diagnosis. The days of general radiology are over. It’s virtually impossible to be a general radiologist that can specialize in the entire body; that’s why Radiology Regional only brings on fellowship-trained radiologists and hires those that specialize in various areas of the body and brain. My family lives here in Florida, and I’m proud to be able to serve my community as an expert and provide the highest-level of care for our patients.”
Radiology Regional is a physician-owned, well-established imaging practice with over 30 board-certified radiologists that work closely with your doctor. You will get personalized service and expertise in a warm, comfortable environment, which is not always offered with a big group or hospital-owned organization. Radiology Regional also provides the newest technological advances. Their superior imaging equipment includes 3T wide-bore MRI, 256 Slice CT, 3D Mammography, Nuclear Medicine, PET Scans, and Siemens ultrasound. Radiology Regional is a premier diagnostic facility that takes pride in offering the highest quality healthcare to the community.
At Radiology Regional, they take your health personally. They have a group of in-house, subspecialty, fellowship-trained radiologists that are experts in diagnosing and detecting conditions within the abdominal and pelvic areas, including the prostate. The machines they invest in are not standard; these are state-of-the-art, high-tech imaging equipment that can find even the most intricate details that would otherwise be missed.
Radiology Regionals has a high-resolution prostate MRI to find small prostate cancers, a dynamic MRI to diagnose pelvic organ prolapse, MRI technique to accurately stage rectal cancer for surgical planning, specific protocol to best evaluate the ovaries and uterus and another MRI technique to focus on the bones and muscles, among several others. All imaging exams are not equal, and Radiology Regional goes above and beyond to offer high-quality studies to help guide medical management.
Radiology Regional
For over 50 years, Radiology Regional has expanded its scope of services and number of outpatient facilities to meet the growing needs of their patients and referring physicians. Radiology Regional has thirteen, ACR accredited and convenient locations to serve you. Their dedicated team of board-certified radiologists, registered technologists, and other specialists are committed to providing their patients with exceptional care utilizing the most advanced technology and techniques available.
Radiology Regional has 13 locations in 3 counties, Lee, Collier and Charlotte.
Ask your physician to refer you to Radiology Regional for your imaging needs. Make your choice the best choice for you!
Contact Radiology Regional today at (941) 255-7945, (239) 425-4678 (Español)
18300 Murdock Circle, Building #15, Port Charlotte (Behind the Surgery Center)
www.radiologyregional.com