[MR spectroscopy of the prostate with external surface coils: clinical feasibility].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical feasibility of MR spectroscopy (MRS) of prostate cancer using external multi-channel surface coils at 1.5T. Materials and methods. Retrospective study of 31 patients with prostate cancer who underwent MRS as part of the staging work-up prior to radical prostatectomy. The ratio of the three main metabolites ([choline + creatine]/citrate) were measured along with spectral analysis of different regions of interest (ROI) placed in areas of normal tissue and cancer using the surgical specimen as the standard of reference.


RESULTS
One hundred and eighty-three voxels were analyzed. Qualitative visual analysis identified pathological spectra in 88.5% of cancer ROI, 11.7% of normal transitional zone ROI and 1.6% of normal peripheral zone ROI. The ratios of normal prostate tissue were significantly more elevated (p<0.0001) in the transition zone (0.41 +/- 0.24) than in the peripheral zone (0.22 +/- 0.36). Tumor containing voxels had significantly higher ratios (2.84 +/- 2.74) than normal tissue containing voxels of the transition zone (p<0.0001) and peripheral zone (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Prostate MRS using external surface coils appears routinely feasible at 1.5T, even though it presents some limitations.
Balique
J
J
Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Nord, CHU de Saint-Etienne, 42055 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2. jbalique@hotmail.com
Cuilleron
M
M
Veyret
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies