Should I have this done at a hospital in the meantime as my insurance will cover it?

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Every patient’s coverage is different, so we cannot speak specifically to this point. However, what we can say is that just because your insurance covers a hospital MRI it is important to remember a few key things:

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• Hospital charges are typically 3-4 times higher than that of an independent facility like FirstScan™. In fact, most range from $2,000 - $3,000.That cost likely does not include the radiologist interpretation, and in most cases, you will be billed separately for that. The prices for interpretation can range anywhere from $200-$500.

• If you have not met your deductible, you may be responsible for part or all of the total cost

• If you have met your deductible, but not your maximum out of pocket, you will still owe for the exam. Most plans will pay at 80% (with the patient being responsible for the remaining 20% of the hospital charge, which again is 3-4 times higher than that of FirstScan).

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Is your study the same as one that the hospitals are offering?

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The short answer is no. FirstScan™ offers a 100% non-invasive MRI that takes approximately 20 minutes. There are some brief patient preparation guidelines that we do ask of our patients (namely to refrain from eating 4-6 hours before the exam and to take a Gas-X before arriving). The following are details of a typical hospital prostate MRI exam:

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• The hospital will image you with what is called an endorectal coil. This is essentially a rectal probe. Some will provide muscle relaxers for their 45-60 minute exam, but you will have to remain in the MRI scanner, with this coil inserted in your rectum for 45-60 minutes. If they do not use an endorectal probe, they will use a non-dedicated body antenna that is not optimized for prostate anatomy, leading to inferior diagnostic images.

• Hospitals typically ask that patients undergoing this exam use 2-3 enemas at different intervals before arriving. This is solely at the patient’s expense.

• Generally speaking, MRIs differ in three areas: The radiologist, the technologist, and the technology.

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FirstScan™’s radiologist is the only prostate ‘expert’ in the area. He has read hundreds of prostate MRI studies, has had a fellowship with Dr. John Feller, MD, a world thought leader in prostate radiology, and consults with this world expert when the need arises. Since most area hospitals do not perform many prostate MRIs, their radiologists, while all very competent, do not possess the requisite experience to accurately interpret the MRI. At FirstScan™, you can rest assured that your MRI interpretation is extremely accurate. When we say you don’t have cancer, it is 93-98% certain that you don’t!

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Much like FirstScan™’s radiologist, FirstScan™’s technologist, or MRI operator, has scanned hundreds of prostates. As mentioned above, since hospitals do not see many of these exams, their technologists (as with their radiologists) may lack the experience to provide a quality exam for the radiologist to interpret. Again, this is not due to a lack of skill or competency, but rather due to a lack of exposure and volume. Hospitals simply do not focus on this procedure whereas this is FirstScan™’s primary activity.

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FirstScan™ utilizes a FDA-approved, proprietary (patented) coil or antennae that is 100% non-invasive and is at the forefront of MRI coil technology. We liken it to wearing a pair of swim trunks or boxer shorts. The hospitals in the region do not employ this technology. 

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I have a rising PSA, why hasn’t my physician recommended FirstScan?

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Using MRI as a means to ‘screen’ for prostate cancer is a relatively new concept, and some physicians may simply not be aware of the advancements that have occurred in MRI technology. We have had discussions with most of the physician groups in the Omaha, NE and Lincoln, NE area. However, we have not yet reached everyone. We encourage you to print off material that you find on our website and bring that in to discuss with your physician. They are more than welcome to call us as well for more details. We are also more than happy to go visit with them if you, or they, would prefer.

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Since this is a ‘screening’ procedure, can you give me my results?

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FirstScan™ requires written orders from your physician before performing the study. Your healthcare is a serious matter and we want to ensure that your healthcare team is actively involved in your care. For that same reason, we will only report the findings of your study to the referring physician. Your physician would then, in turn, discuss the findings with you. This ensures that your questions and concerns are appropriately addressed. We typically provide

results to your physician within 24-48 hours of performing your study. You are free to contact them after that to obtain your results.

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Does your MRI Prostate Screen require a contrast injection?

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No. Our study is 100% non-invasive. It does not need a dynamic contrast injection (DCE). A prostate MRI scan at the hospital will require the contrast agent. We have chosen not to include this in our study protocol because of recent studies outlining the decreased efficacy of DCE in highlighting lesions on the prostate gland. Furthermore, due to the unique nature of our non-invasive coil, the images created are of such greater clarity that it renders DCE unnecessary for all but a few unique situations.

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When is the best time to have an MRI of my prostate done?

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The US National Library of Medicine suggests that MRI of the prostate be used adjunct to PSA (and/or DRE) screening, and when the PSA increases (also called PSA velocity) and continues to do so. The ideal time to have the scan done is PRIOR to a TRUS biopsy. Patients who have had a negative TRUS biopsy are also good candidates for the exam. We can tell with a high degree of certainty whether or not another TRUS biopsy is needed. It is also recommended that patients with a family history of prostate cancer begin screening at age 45 (age 40 for the African American population) including both PSA and MRI.

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I am unsure if I am claustrophobic, and I am nervous about having the exam performed. Will I go into the scanner head first?

 

No. Patients go into the scanner feet first, lying on their back. Depending on one’s height, the top of one’s head may stick out of the scanner itself. If you are worried about claustrophobia speak to your doctor about receiving a prescription for valium or other mild sedative.