title: Age-related changes of normal prostate: evaluation by MR diffusion tensor imaging.
abstract: In this study, fifty healthy normal volunteers were divided into 3 groups according to age: group A (15-30 years, n=14), group B (31-50 years, n=24), group C (>51 years, n=12). The FA and ADC values in PZ and CZ were measured, and difference between the PZ and CZ were assessed. The results indicated that no significant difference were found in the FA and ADC values between the left and right of PZ (P>0.05), but significant differences were observed in the FA and ADC values between PZ and CZ within each group (P<0.05). The FA values of PZ in three groups were 0.227±0.052, 0.202±0.055, and 0.145±0.034, respectively. The ADC values were found to be 1.439±0.160×10(-3), 1.652±0.256×10(-3), and 2.001±0.266×10(-3) mm(2)/s, accordingly. The FA and ADC values in PZ were significantly (P<0.05) different between groups. The FA values of CZ in different groups were found to be 0.291±0.083, 0.287±0.045, and 0.257±0.059, respectively; while the corresponding ADC values were 1.374±0.171×10(-3), 1.382±0.178×10(-3), and 1.415±0.136×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. The FA and ADC values in CZ were not statistically (P>0.05) different between groups. Pearson correlation analysis results showedthat the FA values in PZ havenegative correlation with age (r=-0.498, P<0.05), while the ADC values exhibited a positive correlation with age (r=0.682, P<0.05). No correlations between the changes of FA and ADC values and age were noted in CZ. In conclusion, the FA and ADC values in the normal prostatic PZ were age-dependent. FA decreases and ADC increases with age. In contrast, the FA and ADC values in the normal prostatic CZ were not significantly age-related.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University Jiangsu Provinece, Suzhou 215006, China ; Department of Radiology, Taizhou People's Hospital Jiangsu Province, Taizhou 225300, China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taizhou People's Hospital Jiangsu Province, Taizhou 225300, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University Jiangsu Provinece, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urinary Surgery, Taizhou People's Hospital Jiangsu Province, Taizhou 225300, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Li
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taizhou People's Hospital Jiangsu Province, Taizhou 225300, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taizhou People's Hospital Jiangsu Province, Taizhou 225300, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Prostate; diffusion tensor imaging; magnetic resonance imaging