title: Comparison of image quality and patient discomfort in prostate MRI: pelvic phased array coil vs. endorectal coil.
abstract: To compare image quality (IQ) and patient discomfort during prostate MRI using a pelvic phased array (PPA) coil and an endorectal (ER) coil.
  
  
  
  Ninety-eight patients (median age, 65.7; range 42.1-78.1) underwent prostate MRI on a 3T scanner including T2w and DWI acquired with PPA and an ER coil within the same exam. Acquisition time was kept similar for both acquisitions. Two radiologists evaluated aspects of IQ on a 5-point Likert scale and classified image artifacts. All patients completed a questionnaire on discomfort/pain regarding the ER coil using a visual analogue scale from 1 to 10.
  
  
  
  There was no significant difference in overall IQ for T2w images for both readers (reader 1, 3.27 ± 0.91 and 3.07 ± 0.84, p = 0.057; reader 2, 3.70 ± 0.75 and 3.77 ± 0.81, p = 0.555) for PPA and ER coils, respectively. Overall IQ for DWI acquired with PPA and ER coils was rated similar by reader 1 (3.03 ± 1.10 and 3.08 ± 0.80, respectively, (p = 0.67)), while reader 2 preferred ER coil images (3.27 ± 0.81 and 3.66 ± 0.85 (p < 0.05)). Susceptibility artifacts were more frequent in ER than in PPA coil images (109 vs. 75). Discomfort and pain experienced during insertion of the ER coil was low altogether (VAS score, 3.5 ± 2.1 for "discomfort" and 2.4 ± 2.4 for "pain").
  
  
  
  T2-weighted images may be acquired with comparable IQ using a PPA coil as compared to an ER coil, while DWI images showed better IQ using the ER coil for one of two readers. The insertion of the ER coil caused low to moderate discomfort and pain in patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Borna K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Tellstrasse, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Zürich and University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eberli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. olivio.donati@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Olivio F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Donati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Endorectal coil; Patient discomfort; Prostate MRI; Prostate cancer