Rapid quantitative T mapping of the prostate using three-dimensional dual echo steady state MRI at 3T.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a rapid three-dimensional (3D) quantitative T mapping method for prostate cancer imaging using dual echo steady state (DESS) MRI at 3T.

Methods: In simulations, DESS-T mapping in the presence of T and B1+ variations was evaluated. In a phantom and in healthy volunteers (n = 4), 3D DESS-T mapping was compared with a two-dimensional turbo spin echo (TSE) approach. In volunteers and a pilot patient study (n = 29), quantitative T in normal prostate anatomical zones and in suspected cancerous lesions was evaluated.

Results: The simulated bias for DESS-T was < 2% (5%) for typically observed T ( B1+) variations. In phantoms and in vivo, high correlation of DESS-T and TSE-T (r  = 0.98 and 0.88, P < 0.001) was found. DESS-T in the normal peripheral zone and transition zone was 115 ± 26 ms and 64 ± 7 ms, respectively, in healthy volunteers and 129 ± 39 ms and 83 ± 12 ms, respectively, in patients. In suspected cancerous lesions, DESS-T was 72 ± 14 ms, which was significantly decreased from the normal peripheral zone (P < 0.001) but not from the transition zone.

Conclusion: Rapid 3D T mapping in the entire prostate can be performed in 1 min using DESS MRI. Magn Reson Med 76:1720-1729, 2016. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.