Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging of prostatic cancer: comparison between fat-suppressed T2-weighted fast spin echo and three-dimensional dual-echo, steady-state sequences

The aim of this study was to develop an endorectal MRI strategy for prostatic cancer. We evaluated the MR images from 44 consecutive prostatic cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy. Each sequence from every examination was assessed separately with a specific tumor map drawn. Tumor localization, capsular penetration, and seminal vesicle invasion were marked on maps on the basis of T2 and DESS (dual-echo steady-state) sequences. Thirty patients also had T1-weighted images, and these were assessed with regard to possible tumor outgrowth. The maps were compared with histopathological findings from radical prostatectomy specimens. According to our study, DESS equaled T2 in every respect. No statistically significant differences between the sequences were found with respect to detecting either tumor localization, outgrowth, or seminal vesicle invasion. DESS is a potential new sequence in prostatic MRI as it has been proven to parallel the routinely used T2-weighted imaging.