title: Functional characterization of prostate cancer by integrated magnetic resonance imaging and oxygenation changes during carbogen breathing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in oxygenation of prostate cancer induced by carbogen breathing using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance image (MRI) with an endorectal coil (eMRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 32 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer, endorectal MRI was performed at 1.5 Tesla using the BOLD method. Images were acquired during 4 x 4-minute episodes alternating between room air and carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2) breathing. In each episode, 40 images were acquired (T2*-weighted EPI sequence, 12-14 slices, 3-mm thickness). All patients underwent radical prostatectomy; BOLD-MRI findings were correlated with the histopathologic results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BOLD-MRI could be evaluated in 29 patients, and revealed heterogeneous signal changes of normal prostate and cancer tissue similar to the heterogeneity of prostate tissue in anatomic/pathologic preparation. A significant signal intensity increase (P = 0.004) was found in normal central gland and peripheral zone during carbogen breathing. Signal enhancement in carcinoma was significantly lower (P = 0.004) compared with the contralateral normal side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrinsic blood-tissue contrast-functional MRI during carbogen breathing may help detect and characterize prostate carcinoma from normal tissue, particularly in small 1-sided carcinomas. This may be useful for identifying candidates for radiotherapy and monitoring noninvasive therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Germany. till.diergarten@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diergarten
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martirosian
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kottke
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stenzl
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Heinz-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schlemmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C011700:carbogen; D010100:Oxygen