title: T2* mapping combined with conventional T2-weighted image for prostate cancer detection at 3.0T MRI: a multi-observer study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T2* relaxation is a primary determinant of image contrast with Gradient echo (GRE) sequences, and it has been widely used across body regions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic performance of T2* mapping in combination with T2-weighted (T2W) imaging to T2W imaging alone for prostate cancer (PCa) detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 31 patients (mean age, 62 ± 3 years; age range, 45-78 years) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0T and histological examination. Three observers with varying experience levels reviewed T2W imaging alone, T2* mapping alone, and T2W imaging combined with T2* mapping. A five-point scale was used to assess the probability of PCa in each segment on MR images. Statistical analysis was performed using Z tests after adjusting for data clustering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area under the curve (AUC) of T2W imaging and T2* mapping data (observer 1, 0.93; observer 2, 0.90; observer 3, 0.77) was higher than T2W imaging (observer 1, 0.84; observer 2, 0.79; observer 3, 0.69) for all observers (P < 0.01 in all comparisons). The AUC of T2W imaging and T2* mapping data was higher for observers 1 and 2 than for observer 3 (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of T2W imaging and T2* mapping data (observer 1, 95%, 85%; observer 2, 90%, 83%; and observer 3, 82%, 63%, respectively) was higher than T2W imaging (observer 1, 78%, 79%; observer 2, 76%, 72%; observer 3, 74%, 51%, respectively) for all observers (P < 0.01 for observer 1; P < 0.01 for observers 2 and 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of T2* mapping to T2W imaging improved the diagnostic performance of MRI in PCa detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Lian-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Si-Teng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China chenxiaoxirenji@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xi
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Haacke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Jiani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: T2* mapping; multi-observers; prostate cancer (PCa); sensitivity; specificity