Abstract
BackgroundApplication of an endorectal coil (ERC) for 3.0-T prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contentious. We hypothesised that a multicoil phased-array protocol provides T2-weighted images (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI) with reduced field-of-view (DWIreduced) and monoexponential apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps that are technically equivalent with ERC or without ERC (noERC).MethodsAxial T2WI (repetition time [TR] 7500 ms, echo time [TE] 98–101 ms) and DWIreduced (field-of-view 149–179 × 71–73 mm2, TR/TE 4500–5500/61–74 ms, b values, 50/800 s/mm2) ERC and noERC images were obtained on identical clinical 3.0-T scanners at two centres and compared for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in anterior and posterior outer pericarp (OP) and peripheral placenta (PP) in five green Hayward kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa, European Union regulation 543/2011 class 2). Corroboration in 21 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (negative biopsy, prostate imaging reporting and data system version 2 ≤ 2) involved identical MRI protocols: 10 at site 1, noERC, and 11 at site 2, with ERC. Two-tailed Student’s t test was used.ResultsWith few exceptions, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was similar in kiwifruits and prostates for ERC and noERC. In T2WI, SNR was higher posteriorly in noERC MRI for peripheral zone (PZ) (p < 0.001). In DWIreduced, SNR was higher posteriorly in ERC-OP (p = 0.013) and ERC-PZ (p = 0.026) for b = 50 s/mm2; noERC-OP (p = 0.044) and ERC-PZ (p = 0.001) for b = 800 s/mm2; and ERC-OP (p = 0.001), noERC-OP (p = 0.001), and ERC-PZ (p = 0.001) for ADC, respectively. Volumes of kiwifruits and prostates were similar (89.2 ± 11.2 versus 90.8 ± 48.5 cm3, p = 0.638–0.920).ConclusionsFindings imply that multicoil phased-array 3.0-T prostate MRI with T2WI and DWIreduced with ADC maps provides equivalent results with and without ERC.
Highlights
Application of an endorectal coil (ERC) for 3.0-T prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contentious
Main findings Results obtained in kiwifruits and human prostates are displayed in Tables 2 and 3, and in Figs. 3, 4, 5, respectively
In both T2-weighted images (T2WI) and DWIreduced, with low and high b values and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, respectively, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels were roughly similar in kiwifruits and human prostates
Summary
Application of an endorectal coil (ERC) for 3.0-T prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contentious. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate (MRI) has evolved to be a powerful clinical tool both in the detection and staging of prostate cancer and in guiding prostate biopsy. The assumption that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) would improve with ERC application, due to closer proximity of the receiving coil to the prostate, has been challenged in a recent clinical study [6]. Different external compensation methods have been developed and tested in mathematical simulations, custommade phantoms, and clinical data [12, 13] Such technical compensation methods may be underway, the question remains if in the clinical setting, with commercially available MRI equipment, there is an SNR improvement using ERC for prostate 3.0-T imaging
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