Confused about the doctors.
PIRADS 5 after severe UTI/Hospitalization - seeking perspective for my Dad.
Hi everyone,
I’m writing this because I’m 20 years old, living in a different continent from my Dad, and I’m incredibly stressed. I’ve read the rules and hope it's okay to post this seeking interpretation of his recent scans.
**Background:**
**March 23:** Dad was hospitalized with a severe UTI. CT scan at the time showed prostatitis (inflammation). He completed a full course of antibiotics.
**April 6:** Follow-up showed the prostate size had reduced, swelling was gone, and everything seemed to be returning to normal.
**April 27:** Follow-up Ultrasound showed a potential lesion (noted as possibly infective). Doctor ordered a dynamic MRI.
**Current MRI Results (April 27/28):**
**PI-RADS Category: 5**
**Lesion:** 17×19 mm iso-intense lesion in the mid-gland and apex (left posteromedial/lateral segments).
**Findings:** Restricted diffusion on DWI/ADC maps. Indistinct "smudgy" margins and a focal contour bulge.
**Prostate:** Prostatomegaly with BPH nodules in the transition zone.
**Seminal Vesicles:** Bilaterally bulky (suggests infective/inflammatory etiology).
**PSA:** 8.2
**Radiologist's Note:** "Differential Diagnosis (DD) includes prostatitis."
**The Plan:** The doctor has advised a TRUS-guided 12-core biopsy.
**My Question:** Given that he had a severe infection just one month ago, how likely is it that a PIRADS 5 is a "false positive" caused by lingering prostatitis? The radiologist mentioned the bulky seminal vesicles might be inflammatory, and the prostate size had previously been decreasing.
Has anyone else dealt with a PIRADS 5 shortly after a major infection? I am trying to stay calm, but being so far away makes every "highly likely" feel like a final diagnosis.
Thank you for any insight.
(This was the original post)
Update:
We are very confused right now. Since the MRI, we’ve seen multiple doctors. One doctor repeated an ultrasound because my dad was having symptoms again, and the lesion actually appeared smaller on that scan.
Yesterday, his urologist suggested a PET-CT because my dad has been having joint pain (which I think may be from the antibiotics he’s taking). This really scared us because my dad hasn’t even been diagnosed with cancer yet, and most other doctors still believe this is inflammation from the severe infection/prostatitis.