An Imaging Enquiry into Prostatic Calcifications

Abstract

While the prostate is known to have calcifications, many times the exact etiology is unknown. It’s relation with infections or neoplasms is also not clear. While it can come as a surprise for the novice, an expert might feel otherwise and may even pass is as an incidental finding. Often these calcifications are tiny and cannot be palpated and hence, remain practically hidden. However, they become readily visible on ultrasound scan- the most widely used imaging modality; as hyperechoic foci with or without posterior acoustic shadowing. They can also be detected on CT-scan or MRI-scans. On CT-scan the calcifications appear as tiny hyperdense foci having CT density value +90 to +150 H.U. MRI demonstrates them as hypointense foci on all MRI sequences, seen best on gradient echo sequence. Plain Radiographs will show them only when they are sufficiently large or radioopaque as radio-opacities in the expected locations of these organs. The aim of this article is to describe the lesser known phenomenon of calcifications in prostate; to ascertain the causes and to address to the health impacts of these calcifications.

Keywords

• calcifications
• ct scan
• diagnostic imaging
• prostate