Imaging

Imaging plays an important role in determining the extent of the cancer. During imaging, the following are studied.

  • Exact location of the primary tumor (primary site)
  • Tumor size
  • Whether the tumor has extended into the pubic bone
  • Spread to adjacent tissues or organs
  • Regional lymph node involvement
  • Sites of distant metastases (including distant lymph nodes)
Modality Utility
Bone scan Bone mets are common with prostate cancer. Bone scans are routinely done during the clinical work up for prostate cancer.
PET Scan
  • Prostate staging
  • Monitoring disease progression
  • Looking for other possible areas of metastatic disease (bone, brain, liver, spleen)
Transrectal ultrasound A probe the size of a finger is inserted into the rectum to check the prostate. It uses high energy sounds waves to form a picture of the prostate. A biopsy may be done at the same time.
Transrectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • A probe is inserted into the rectum near the prostate. This MRI is done specifically to determine if the cancer has spread outside the prostate into nearby tissues.
  • More commonly, MRI’s like this are being used to diagnose prostate cancer, along with providing staging information.
  • See (PIRADS) section.
ProstaScint Scan
  • An imaging test used to detect prostate cancer. Patient receives injection of an indium 111-labeled form of ProstaScint, which contains a monoclonal antibody that binds to prostate cells.
  • A gamma camera is used to find prostate cancer cells in the body.

See Diagnostic Tests | SEER Training website for more information on imaging.

Document imaging details in NAACCR #2530: Text-Dx Proc-X-ray scan.

Document results of Scopes in NAACCR Item #2540: Text-Dx Proc-Scopes.

Updated: June 15, 2026

Suggested Citation

SEER Training Modules: Imaging. U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Cited 17 June 2026. Available from: https://training.seer.cancer.gov.