Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of a multiparametric 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study using diffusion-weighted images (DWI) for the assessment of prostate cancer before and after radiotherapy (RT).


METHODS
A total of 34 patients, who received a histologic diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma, underwent MRI examination before and after local RT for the assessment of response to treatment. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated and compared.


RESULTS
Before RT, DWI shows pathologic restriction of signal, while after RT pathologic restriction of signal was reduced or disappeared. The ADC values were significantly increased after therapy (p&lt;0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of DWI with ADC measurements may be an imaging biomarker in the assessment of prostate cancer.
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Giancarlo
G
Iannelli
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Rocchina
R
Caivano
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Luciana
L
Rago
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Vittorio
V
Simeon
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Antonella
A
Lotumolo
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Paola
P
Rabasco
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Antonio
A
Villonio
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Matilde
M
Gioioso
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Pietro
P
Mastrangelo
Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Prostate Unit Diagnostic University of Rome, "La Sapienza," Rome - Italy.
Flavio
F
Barchetti
Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Prostate Unit Diagnostic University of Rome, "La Sapienza," Rome - Italy.
Valeria
V
Panebianco
Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia - Italy.
Luca
L
Macarini
Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia - Italy.|Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute Hospital "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza," San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia) - Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Guglielmi
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.
Aldo
A
Cammarota
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018401:Sample Size; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen