Prostatic Cancer: Diagnosis and Differentiation by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI

Abstract

Objective: To assess the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in the diagnosis and differentiation of prostatic cancer (PC). Methods: Five volunteers, 36 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 13 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent conventional MRI, DCE-MRI and delayed enhancement MRI. The value of the signal intensity in DCE-MRI was measured and calculated to draw the time-signal intensity curve of the normal peripheral zone (PZ), the prostate cancer and the benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results: In DCE-MRI, the normal peripheral zone was enhanced mildly and slowly and the peak value was located in late phase. The enhancement of the lesions in 36 patients with the benign prostatic hyperplasia was obvious in early phase and strengthened gradually, and then turned to decrease in late phase after peak value. The lesions in 9 of 13 cases with prostate cancer were enhanced obviously in early phase and washed out rapidly, and the peak value was located in early phase, but the peak value was in mediate and late phase in the other 4 cases with diffuse lesion in the prostate on T₂WI. Conclusion: In DCE-MRI, the enhancement patterns of the normal peripheral zone, the prostate cancer and the benign prostatic hyperplasia were significantly different. DCE-MRI was very useful in the diagnosis and differentiation of prostate cancer.