Diffusion-weighted imaging of normal and malignant prostate tissue at 3.0T

✍ Scribed by Martin D. Pickles; Peter Gibbs; Muthyala Sreenivas; Lindsay W. Turnbull

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 343 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-1807
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20477

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Purpose

To measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of normal and malignant prostate tissue at 3.0T using a phased‐array coil and parallel imaging, and determine the utility of ADC values in differentiating tumor from normal peripheral zone (PZ).

Materials and Methods

ADC values were calculated for 49 patients (tumor and PZ) with evidence of prostate cancer. Additionally, for nine asymptomatic volunteers, ADC values were determined for apparently normal central gland and PZ. A single‐shot EPI diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) technique with b = 0 and 500 seconds/mm^2^ was employed.

Results

ADC values were significantly lower for tumor (1.38 ± 0.32 × 10^−3^ mm^2^/second) than for patient PZ (1.95 ± 0.50 × 10^−3^ mm^2^/second, P < 0.001) and volunteer PZ (1.60 ± 0.25 × 10^−3^ mm^2^/second, P = 0.031). A considerable overlap of ADC values was noted between patient tissue types.

Conclusion

DWI of the prostate at 3.0T in conjunction with a phased‐array coil and parallel imaging allows ADC calculation of the prostate. ADC values were lower for tumors compared to normal‐appearing PZ; however, there was considerable intersubject variability. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.