Staging of Prostate Cancer can be Diagnosed With a New Technique

Standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate lacks sensitivity in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer (PCa).

A novel, enhanced MRI diffusion technique using restriction spectrum imaging (RSI-MRI) was developed to improve the operating characteristics of prostate MRI in the detection and characterization of Pca.

The efficacy of RSI-MRI technique was compared with standard MRI for detecting extraprostatic extension (EPE).

28 PCa patients underwent MRI and RSI-MRI prior to radical prostatectomy and 10 patients had pT3 (prostate cancer, stage 3) disease.

Of the 27 patients who were evaluated, preoperative standard MRI identified two of the nine-pT3 extraprostatic extension.

RSI-MRI identified EPE in eight of nine (89%) patients. RSI-MRI correctly identified pT2 disease in the remaining 18 patients.

RSI-MRI technology is feasible and shows promise for substantially improving PCa imaging.

Source: Medindia