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


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/mm2 was employed.


RESULTS
ADC values were significantly lower for tumor (1.38 +/- 0.32 x 10(-3) mm2/second) than for patient PZ (1.95 +/- 0.50 x 10(-3) mm2/second, P < 0.001) and volunteer PZ (1.60 +/- 0.25 x 10(-3) mm2/second, P = 0.031). A considerable overlap of ADC values was noted between patient tissue types.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Pickles
Martin D
MD
Centre for Magnetic Resonance Investigations, Division of Cancer, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK. m.d.pickles@medschool.hull.ac.uk
Gibbs
Peter
P
Sreenivas
Muthyala
M
Turnbull
Lindsay W
LW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques