Prostate MRI Scan

MRI is the best imaging test for finding areas of the prostate that look suspicious, and it is now the first investigation the NHS uses after a raised PSA. It cannot confirm cancer on its own: a suspicious area is usually scored on a 1 to 5 scale (PI-RADS or Likert), and scores of 3 or above usually lead to a targeted biopsy to confirm what the area is. A scan scored 1 or 2 makes significant cancer unlikely and can avoid a biopsy altogether.

Prostate MRI detects around nine in ten clinically significant cancers and, importantly, correctly reassures most men who do not have one, which is why it is used before biopsy. Its accuracy depends on the scanner, the protocol and the radiologist. This scan is a non-contrast prostate MRI reported by a consultant radiologist; where the report recommends it, your GP or urologist can arrange a full multiparametric scan or biopsy on the NHS.

If you have a raised PSA and are facing a wait for an NHS scan, or you want reassurance because of a family history, a private scan turns weeks of uncertainty into a reported result within about a week. If your PSA is normal and you have no symptoms, an MRI is not usually recommended as a screening test; a PSA blood test is the sensible first step, and our Stockholm3 and EpiSwitch PSE tests add more information before imaging.

You lie on your back on a table that moves into the scanner, with a coil placed over your pelvis. The scan takes 30 to 45 minutes and is painless; the machine is noisy and you will be asked to keep still. This scan is done without a contrast injection, so there is no cannula. Nothing is inserted; the endorectal coils used in some hospitals are not part of this scan.

Empty your bowels if you can on the morning of the scan and avoid a large meal in the hours before; a full bowel makes the images harder to read. Avoid caffeine on the day, as it can increase bowel movement during the scan. Wear clothes without metal and tell the centre about any implants or metal in your body. You can drive afterwards.

The scan itself takes 30 to 45 minutes. Your report, written by a consultant radiologist, and your images are emailed within 3 to 5 working days. If the report shows anything that needs attention, a Goodbody clinician calls you to explain what it means and what to do next.

MRI. It shows the prostate in far more detail than ultrasound or CT and is the recommended first investigation when PSA is raised. A CT scan is not used to find prostate cancer; it and bone scans are used later to check whether a known cancer has spread. PSMA PET scans are used in specialist settings for the same purpose. For a man with a raised PSA who wants to know what is going on, MRI is the right scan.

Yes, in most cases. A consultant radiologist's report on a private prostate MRI is a valid clinical document and NHS urologists will normally use it to decide on next steps, such as a targeted biopsy, rather than repeat it. Occasionally a urologist will want a multiparametric scan to a specific protocol before biopsy; if so, that is arranged through them. Take your Goodbody report to your GP for referral.

Usually, yes. A PSA blood test is the normal first step, and the MRI is most useful when the PSA result, your age and any symptoms give the radiologist context. Our Private PSA Blood Test is £69 and can be done at the same clinic network. If your PSA is already raised, or a GP has already tested it, you can book the MRI directly.

£599 at Goodbody Clinic, including the scan, a consultant radiologist's report and your images, with a clinician call if anything needs attention. Private prostate MRI in the UK typically costs between £500 and £1,000, with multiparametric scans at private hospitals at the top of that range and the report sometimes charged separately.

At 59 imaging centres across the UK, with appointments typically within 7 days of booking. Choose your centre and time when you book. Find your nearest centre.

Your report will describe any suspicious area and, in most cases, give it a score. A Goodbody clinician calls you to explain it and, where the finding suggests further investigation, how to take the report to your GP for urgent referral to a urologist, who can arrange a targeted biopsy. Low-scored areas usually need no action beyond continued PSA monitoring.