Evaluation of normal prostate tissue, chronic prostatitis, and prostate cancer by quantitative perfusion analysis using a dynamic contrast-enhanced inversion-prepared dual-contrast gradient echo sequence.

Objective: To quantify independent pharmacokinetic parameters for differentiation of prostate pathology.

Material And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer (PSA: 1.4-16.1 ng/mL) underwent magnetic resonance imaging with a new dynamic contrast-enhanced, inversion-prepared dual-contrast gradient echo sequence (T1/T2*-weighted, 1.65 seconds temporal resolution) using a combined endorectal/body phased-array coil at 1.5 Tesla. Perfusion, blood volume, mean transit time, delay, and dispersion were calculated using a sequential 3-compartment model. Twenty-three patients underwent prostatectomy. For histologic correlation a pathologist mapped areas of normal prostate tissue, chronic prostatitis, and prostate cancer (total of 63 areas) on histologic sections corresponding to the magnetic resonance imaging planes.

Results: Compared with normal prostate tissue, low-grade cancer (Gleason score
Conclusion: The pharmacokinetic parameters investigated, especially perfusion, allow statistically significant in situ differentiation of normal prostate tissue from cancer and chronic prostatitis and of high-grade cancer from chronic prostatitis.