In vivo MR spectroscopic imaging of the prostate, from application to interpretation.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) enables non-invasive assessment of certain metabolites in the prostate gland. Several studies have demonstrated that this metabolic information, in combination with anatomical information from T2-weighted MR imaging significantly improves prostate cancer detection, localization and disease characterization. The technology of1H MRSI is continuously evolving with improvements of hardware and acquisition methods. Recently,31P and13C MRSI of the prostate have regained new interest after a dormant period of decades. This review focuses on recent technical progress of in vivo1H MRSI of the prostate, in particular those that enhance clinical applicability at 3T with respect to commonly used techniques to examine the prostate. These developments consist of higher magnetic field strengths, and better MR coils and acquisition techniques. Besides the improvements for1H MRSI, the developments and opportunities for31P and13C MRSI for the prostate are reviewed. Finally, we briefly review13C MRS of the prostate, in particular the new possibilities with hyperpolarized substrates.
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (766), Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Nassim.Tayari@radboudumc.nl.
Nassim
N
Tayari
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (766), Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Arend
A
Heerschap
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (766), Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Tom W J
TWJ
Scheenen
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (766), Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Thiele
T
Kobus
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
MRSI data acquisition; Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging; Prostate cancer; Prostate metabolites