MRI - magnetic resonance imaging - a diagnostic procedure that helps to comprehensively examine various organs, body systems. One of its varieties is MRI of the bladder - a study that interests the reader. Let's look at the characteristics, the advantages of this procedure, the indications for it, the preparation of the patient, the possibilities of such a diagnosis.
Characteristic of the procedure
Most often, MRI of the bladder is performed in a complex of magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic organs. However, it can be an independent procedure. For high-precision results, the study should be carried out on a magnetic high-field tomograph with a magnetic force of 1.5 Tesla. The power of the device is reflected in the informative accuracy of the results. It can be prescribed after ultrasound, CT (computed tomography) of the body.
An MRI of the bladder is characterized as safe, non-invasive (without penetration of the device through the patient’s skin, mucous membranes), highly informative examination. It is also painless for the patient.
The procedure is often associated with the introduction of a special contrast agent. Why is this done? First of all, to ensure more accurate research results - MRI of bladder cancer. The contrast agent makes it possible to more clearly and vividly show the characteristic tumor clots, the actual size, and the location of the malignant neoplasm in the picture.
Research cost
The cost of the procedure is within 5 thousand rubles. If MRI is performed using a contrast medium, then the price can be almost doubled.
Patients note that MRI of the bladder is more expensive than MRI of all pelvic organs. What is the reason for this? Although pelvic MRI is a more extensive examination, it is less accurate, more superficial. With it, getting a clear image of the bladder is extremely difficult. The whole blame is the constant fluctuation of fluid in the organ.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the bladder is an "aimed", more technically difficult diagnosis. It is aimed specifically at this organ, it allows you to clearly visualize its contents and walls, adjacent lymph nodes and tissues.
Indications for the study
When can a patient be given an MRI of the bladder? As a rule, the following cases become indications:
- Suspicion of tumor development - benign or malignant.
- Various abnormalities of organ tissues.
- Determination of the possibility of a particular therapy. In particular, surgical intervention, radiation treatment.
- Pathological processes in the lymph nodes. For example, their increase.
- Congenital malformations of the genitourinary system.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment prescribed to the patient.
- Monitoring the state of the tumor - an assessment of its growth.
- After cancer is cured, the necessary preventive measure is to prevent relapse in a timely manner.
Key advantages and disadvantages of the procedure
What is the difference between MRI of the bladder in women and men from relatively similar examination methods? It is all about the undeniable advantages of magnetic resonance imaging:
- High accuracy, resolution of the obtained images. It is possible to visualize pathology with an accuracy of 1 mm, a demonstration of the thinnest sections.
- The procedure uses the action of a magnetic field, not x-ray ionizing radiation. Consequence - it is completely harmless to the human body. One more advantage follows from this - MRI can be repeated many times.
- The patient does not require specific complex preparation for the examination.
- It determines a number of pathologies at an early stage, when the possibilities for their cure are almost one hundred percent.
- Allows you to diagnose the degree of invasion of the cancerous tumor. What does it mean? The imaging specialist can determine the stage of the disease.
- Ultrasound examination of an organ, x-ray, computed tomography do not always provide sufficient information for an accurate diagnosis (namely, the effectiveness of therapy depends on it). Based on MRI images, it is possible to obtain determinative data for the conclusion.
- The location of the pelvic organs is specific. Therefore, ultrasound or CT can sometimes not "consider" them. Not visible qualitative changes in the tissues, clear boundaries of violations. MRI of the bladder in men and women is performed without these difficulties.
Based on all the indicated advantages, a significant drawback of the method is highlighted - it is its high cost compared to the same ultrasound or CT.
In what uncertain cases is a survey prescribed?
An MRI of the bladder and kidneys can be prescribed to the patient in case of alarming nonspecific symptoms, which may be the result of pathological processes in the bladder itself, and in the organs of the small pelvis, renal system. These are also signs that directly or indirectly indicate tumor processes - benign and malignant.
For women, the procedure is prescribed for indirect suspicion of diseases of the uterus, ovaries, rectum, blood vessels leading to the genitourinary system. As for men, MRI is prescribed for implicit symptoms, which also indicate damage to the prostate gland.
Often, the procedure is prescribed to patients with abnormal congenital features of the bladder. Organ MRI is mandatory before surgery - surgical removal of the neoplasm.
Anxiety symptoms
Undergoing an MRI of the bladder (with or without contrast - as directed by the specialist who sent the procedure) must follow with a combination of symptoms:
- Painful urination.
- Difficult urine removal.
- Urinary incontinence - day or night.
- Increase / decrease in the usual volume of urine excreted, a qualitative change in its smell and / or color.
- Blood or blood streaks in the urine.
- Pain in the inguinal zone - both at rest and during various physical activities.
- Enlarged lymph nodes located in the inguinal region.
What shows an MRI of the bladder?
The diagnostic procedure helps to identify not only the fact of the presence of many pathologies, but also to determine the stage of the disease, the nature and boundaries of organ damage.
What shows an MRI of the bladder in both women and men:
- Malignant and benign tumors affecting the organ. Note that for greater effectiveness of such diagnostics, it is better to conduct an MRI scan using a contrast agent.
- Congenital abnormalities in the development of the genitourinary system.
- Tissue pathologies of a different nature.
- Diseases of the lymph nodes (located in the inguinal region).
- The presence of stones in the bladder, their size, localization.
- Diverticulums.
- Hernias.
- Morion's disease.
The need for a procedure
Conducting magnetic resonance imaging of the bladder is vital in these cases:
- Diagnosis of cancer, affecting the body.
- Examination before radiation, chemotherapy.
- Diagnosis before choosing the tactics of surgical intervention.
- Monitoring the condition of patients who have undergone anti-cancer treatment is used to evaluate tumor progression and prevent relapse.
Using contrast
As we have said, a contrast medium provides a more accurate diagnosis. This is especially important in cases of suspected oncology.
Cons of the method:
- Cost (almost doubles).
- Time costs (the procedure takes at least an hour).
However, the best research data will be the reward. The fact is that here the contrast agent is made on the basis of gadolinium salts, which clearly help to imagine the difference between the affected and healthy tissues. Neoplasms will be brighter and faster stained due to their developed vascular network. Contrast in this way allows you to see both the size and the borders of the cancerous lesion.
Contraindications
Note that there are few prohibitions on the procedure:
- An absolute contraindication is vascular clipping. Under the influence of the magnetic field, the clip is shifted.
- A relative contraindication is a hip joint replacement. May cause some interference in the image. Therefore, the question of the feasibility of MRI is decided individually.
- Orthopedic plates for osteosynthesis, other joint endoprostheses, a pacemaker, a cochlear implant will not be obstacles to the procedure. But their presence must be warned by a specialist, as well as having a passport for the device, the conclusion of the surgeon who implanted him, about the possibility of an MRI.
Preparation for MRI of the bladder
Preparatory actions are simple:
- A few days before the start of the procedure, start to adhere to a special diet prescribed by your doctor. It consists of products that do not cause gas formation. Excluded legumes, prunes, eggplant, brown bread, nuts, pastry.
- Enhanced intestinal motility may affect the results of the study. Therefore, it is also recommended to make a cleansing enema on the eve of the procedure.
- Before the event, you need to take off all metal objects - jewelry, piercings, glasses, dentures. Your clothes should not have metal zippers and buttons, rhinestones. It is not recommended to wear a thing that contains lurex.
- If you have fixed prostheses, notify a specialist about them. An exception here is only for titanium material.
- The bladder must be full! Therefore, an hour or two before the event, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of liquid, always without gas. Before conducting an MRI, you need to refrain from visiting the toilet.
- If the procedure is carried out using contrast, then in a few hours the patient must pass a test - to exclude the fact of an allergic reaction to the substance.
MRI itself takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour (when using contrast). It does not cause any pain. Some patients, however, may be annoyed by the noise made by the drug. If a person suffers from claustrophobia, similar mental disorders, then you need to choose a clinic where an open type apparatus is used. Or take a sedative medicine.
Deciphering the results
The diagnosis based on the received image can only be made by a specialist! Self-decryption of the image by a layperson based on pictures from the Internet, of course, will be inconclusive.
An MRI of the bladder is the most accurate and safe examination of the organ, with a minimum of contraindications. One of its minuses is the relatively high cost.