OBJECTIVES: To assess the image quality of T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate and the visibility of prostate cancer at 7 Tesla (T).
MATERIALS & METHODS: Seventeen prostate cancer patients underwent T2w imaging at 7T with only an external transmit/receive array coil. Three radiologists independently scored images for image quality, visibility of anatomical structures, and presence of artefacts. Krippendorff's alpha and weighted kappa statistics were used to assess inter-observer agreement. Visibility of prostate cancer lesions was assessed by directly linking the T2w images to the confirmed location of prostate cancer on histopathology.
RESULTS: T2w imaging at 7T was achievable with 'satisfactory' (3/5) to 'good' (4/5) quality. Visibility of anatomical structures was predominantly scored as 'satisfactory' (3/5) and 'good' (4/5). If artefacts were present, they were mostly motion artefacts and, to a lesser extent, aliasing artefacts and noise. Krippendorff's analysis revealed an α = 0.44 between three readers for the overall image quality scores. Clinically significant cancer lesions in both peripheral zone and transition zone were visible at 7T.
CONCLUSION: T2w imaging with satisfactory to good quality can be routinely acquired, and cancer lesions were visible in patients with prostate cancer at 7T using only an external transmit/receive body array coil.
Written by:
Vos EK, Lagemaat MW, Barentsz JO, Fütterer JJ, Zámecnik P, Roozen H, Orzada S, Bitz AK, Maas MC, Scheenen TW. Are you the author?
Department of Radiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, P.O. box 9101, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Reference: Eur Radiol. 2014 May 28. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-014-3234-6
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24865699
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
