MRI provides undistorted prostate images in cancer patients

The use of MRI without endorectal coil can detect prostate cancer and provide undistorted images with diagnostic image quality and accurate tumor localization, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Ohio State University, Columbus.

Because use of an endorectal coil leads to deformation of the prostate and potentially altered microcirculation, the study aimed to assess the capability of detecting prostate cancer areas by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI without endorectal coil at 3T validated by correlation with surgical pathology.

Thirteen patients with prostate cancer who were scheduled for prostatectomy were imaged on a 3T MRI, and suspicious areas, tumor location, extracapsulation, and seminal vesicle involvement were noted. 3D reconstruction of the prostate, tumor neurovascular bundle, and surrounding tissue was performed and used as an intra-operative road map.

Cancer was correctly localized in 11 patients (85%). There was an agreement with pathology in 10 (77%) of patients regarding extracapsulation and in 11 (85%) regarding seminal vesicle involvement. The study showed that 3D reconstruction was useful for the surgical road map in all 13 cases.

“High field MRI enables the acquisition of undistorted prostate images without endorectal coil,” said lead author Steffen Sammet, MD, PhD. “The high signal-to-noise ratio and the image quality of the prostate and the surrounding tissue may, in the future, allow us to detect prostate cancer at an earlier stage.”

The study results were presented during the American Roentgen Ray Society's annual meeting in Washington.