Dedicated Cancer Imaging

MRI is the preferred and gold standard modality for brain and central nervous system tumour detection, characterisation, surgical planning and treatment response monitoring. At MBR Health, brain MRI is performed using advanced sequences that are rarely available outside major academic and research centres for more comprehensive evaluation.

For pre-operative planning, MBR Health’s functional MRI maps important neuronal pathways including motor, language, speech and visual function in relation to the tumour. This information is critical for neurosurgical planning and may include guidance for stereotactic radiosurgery such as CyberKnife, with the aim of minimising post-operative neurological deficits.

MRI is the preferred modality for local staging of head and neck cancers, providing superior soft tissue characterisation of primary tumour extent, perineural spread, skull base involvement and deep tissue invasion compared to CT. At MBR Health, dedicated head and neck MRI supports local staging and surgical planning across a broad range of head and neck malignancies including oral cavity, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancers.

Ultrasound is the gold standard and first-line imaging modality for thyroid cancer detection and nodule characterisation, providing high-resolution real-time assessment of thyroid nodule morphology, vascularity and cervical lymph node involvement. At MBR Health, thyroid ultrasound is performed by experienced sonographers and reported by specialist radiologists.

Our breast cancer imaging utilises high-sensitivity breast MRI to detect early-stage malignancy and precancerous changes, particularly in women with dense breast tissue or elevated risk profiles. MRI may also be complemented with dedicated ultrasound of the breast and axilla.

For individuals who are not suitable for MRI (e.g. metal implants), MBR Health offers next-generation Spectral CT breast imaging, including our Australian first non-compression breast protocol as an alternative for individuals not suitable for MRI.

All our breast scans are interpreted and reported by an Australian-based specialist RANZCR reporting radiologist.

For lung cancer detection, CT-based imaging remains gold-standard. MBR Health’s Spectral CT offers greater diagnostic confidence as a result of unique ability to visualise both anatomy and tissue composition. By assessing material characteristics and contrast behaviour, Spectral CT allows more accurate distinction between benign and suspicious nodules compared to conventional CT performed elsewhere.

MBR Health performs Australia’s first low-dose Spectral CT chest imaging means our team can perform multi-phase imaging in a single scan with a fraction of the IV contrast. Compared to the industry standard, up to 50% less contrast dose compared to other providers. To learn more about the our Spectral CT advantage, visit our Spectral CT page.

Pancreatic, gallbladder and biliary duct cancers are some of the most challenging malignancies to detect at an early and treatable stage.

MBR Health utilises advanced 3T MRI (e.g. MR cholangiopancreatography) and Spectral CT of the abdomen to identify early structural changes, masses and subtle abnormalities including pre-cancerous cysts such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas or cholangiocarcinoma. This precision imaging approach improves the likelihood of identifying clinically significant pathology before symptoms become pronounced, supporting earlier intervention which may improve clinical outcomes.

Ultrasound with or without contrast (i.e. contrast-enhanced ultrasound) may also be used to assess the pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, particularly in the initial assessment in symptomatic individuals. Abdominal ultrasound is often the first-line investigation, moving to cross-sectional imaging for further clarification.

Generally, initial evaluation of symptoms potentially related to oesophageal cancer is best performed under CT. Specific to MBR Health, Spectral CT enables sensitive detection of oesophageal wall abnormalities, early tumour formation and structural changes associated with oesophageal cancer. MRI may be useful after CT-based imaging, however the proximity of the oesophagus and oesophageal-gastric junction to air-filled organs makes most MRI examinations challenging due to air-tissue interface related artefact.

At MBR Health, our advanced MRI signal enhancement protocols and distortion correction capability have been specifically developed to improve image fidelity in this technically challenging anatomical region, delivering a greater diagnostic confidence for MRI of the organs within the chest.

Spectral CT is the primary imaging modality for gastric cancer staging at MBR Health, providing comprehensive assessment of primary tumour extent, nodal involvement and distant metastatic disease. The material characterisation and iodine mapping capability of Spectral CT improves lesion visibility and lymph node assessment compared to conventional CT, supporting more accurate staging and surgical planning. Our MRI may provide complementary local staging information in selected cases, particularly for assessment of adjacent organ involvement and peritoneal disease.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary liver cancers and arises most frequently in the setting of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. MRI is the gold standard imaging modality for HCC detection, characterisation and surveillance, providing superior soft tissue resolution and dynamic contrast enhancement assessment compared to CT.

At MBR Health, liver MRI is performed using a dedicated liver contrast known as Primovist — a contrast agent that provides both dynamic vascular phase imaging and delayed hepatobiliary phase assessment, significantly improving the detection of small HCCs and differentiating malignant from benign liver lesions. All liver MRI examinations are reported using the LI-RADS standardised reporting system, ensuring consistent and reproducible assessment for clinical management and surveillance planning. For individuals not suited to MRI, MBR Health offers Spectral CT, Ultrasound, or Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessment of liver pathology.

Renal cancer is frequently detected incidentally on imaging performed for other clinical indications. At MBR Health, renal masses are assessed using a multi-modality approach tailored to the clinical indication. Ultrasound is often the first modality to identify a renal mass, with contrast-enhanced ultrasound providing real-time dynamic characterisation of indeterminate lesions without radiation exposure.

Spectral CT provides definitive renal mass characterisation and staging — iodine mapping quantifies lesion enhancement, material decomposition differentiates fat-containing lesions from renal cell carcinoma, and virtual non-contrast reconstructions enable multi-phase anatomically contiguous imaging in a single acquisition, reducing radiation exposure by up to 50% compared to conventional multi-phase CT protocols.

For indeterminate masses, complex cystic lesions or patients where radiation minimisation is a priority, MRI provides superior soft tissue characterisation including venous tumour thrombus assessment. Renal masses are reported using the Bosniak classification system for standardised and reproducible clinical management guidance.

While colonoscopy is the primary mode of initial evaluation of the colon, MRI is the gold standard for colorectal cancer local staging, providing information such as tumour depth, fascia involvement, lymph node involvement – important factors determining surgical approach and treatment. At MBR Health, dedicated bowel preparation, motion correction techniques and sequence optimisation protocols have been specifically developed to address inherent challenges of imaging the bowel and rectum, improving image fidelity and reducing motion-related artefact across colorectal and rectal MRI examinations.

MBR Health provides comprehensive imaging of the female pelvis across a broad range of gynaecological and oncological indications. Ultrasound — including transvaginal ultrasound — is typically the first-line assessment for pelvic symptoms and adnexal evaluation, providing real-time assessment of the uterus, ovaries and surrounding structures. Where further characterisation is required, MRI is the preferred cross-sectional imaging modality for the female abdominopelvic organs, offering superior soft tissue resolution and multiplanar capability that cannot be matched by CT or ultrasound alone.

At MBR Health, our advanced female pelvis 3T MRI can evaluate symptoms to detect ovarian and adnexal masses, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer.

MBR Health provides advanced prostate imaging using high-resolution MRI and targeted ultrasound to identify clinically significant prostate and testicular cancer with exceptional accuracy. This approach enables early identification of suspicious lesions, improved risk stratification and more precise guidance for further investigation or treatment, while helping to reduce unnecessary biopsies and overdiagnosis. All our prostate scans are interpreted and reported by Australian-based RANZCR reporting radiologists.

For haematological malignancies including multiple myeloma and lymphoma, MRI is the primary imaging modality and offers superior bone marrow sensitivity, nodal assessment and soft tissue characterisation compared to conventional CT. At MBR Health, haematological cancer imaging is delivered through our dedicated whole-body MRI service, which is internationally recommended as the preferred staging modality for multiple myeloma and demonstrates comparable performance to PET/CT for selected lymphoma subtypes in the published literature.

Some patients present with persistent or unexplained symptoms, such as unintended weight-loss and persistent fatigue, that raise clinical concern for an underlying malignancy but have not yet received a diagnosis through conventional assessment. These are sometimes referred to as red flag symptoms — clinical features that may indicate an occult cancer requiring further investigation.

MBR Health’s contrast-enhanced Spectral CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis is a well-recognised and clinically valuable investigation for occult cancer, providing comprehensive multi-system assessment in a single examination. In a 2020 prospective study, Spectral CT found statistically significant more cancers, including those difficult to detect like pancreatic cancer, compared to conventional CT. Importantly, diagnostic confidence for benign lesions increased from 30% to 96% and vastly reduced the need for additional imaging by nearly 70%.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, change in bowel habits, unexplained anaemia or other concerning symptoms, please speak with your healthcare provider in the first instance. Your trusted healthcare team is best placed to assess your symptoms and advise whether advanced imaging is appropriate for your situation.

At MBR Health, Spectral CT technology is used in every CT scan — meaning all body imaging automatically benefits from the diagnostic advantages of Spectral technology at no additional cost*. Your CT referral is yours to take anywhere, and we welcome you to bring it to MBR Health.