Prostate MR imaging at 3T with a longitudinal array endorectal surface coil and phased array body coil.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the feasibility of using a double loop phased array endorectal coil combined with a phased array body coil to image the prostate at 3T.


METHODS
We designed and constructed a novel prostate coil employing two arrayed 4.0 x 5.0 cm loops, tuned the device for optimal performance at 3T, and characterized the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with it.


RESULTS
The coil Q factor was calculated to be approximately 50 unloaded, and 30 when loaded on human tissue. SNR maps at multiple orientations were constructed and images were acquired on both a phantom and a human. As expected, SNR was highest along the midpoint of the array and demonstrated strong signal even at 4 cm from the coil.


CONCLUSIONS
The double loop phased array endorectal coil combined with a phased array body coil at 3T is feasible in vivo and compelling enough to warrant future clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy. These trials are currently under way.
Kim
David Y
DY
Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA. david.kimwg07@wharton.upenn.edu
Schnall
Mitchell D
MD
Rosen
Mark A
MA
Connick
Thomas
T
D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012007:Rectum