Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging at 7 T in patients with prostate cancer

  • Objectives The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of phosphorus (³¹P) spectra of the human prostate and to investigate changes of individual phospholipid metabolites in prostate cancer through in vivo ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) at 7 T. Materials and Methods In this institutional review board–approved study, 15 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent T₂-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and 3-dimensional ³¹P MRSI at 7 T. Voxels were selected at the tumor location, in normal-appearing peripheral zone tissue, normal-appearing transition zone tissue, and in the base of the prostate close to the seminal vesicles. Phosphorus metabolite ratios were determined and compared between tissue types. Results Signals of phosphoethanolamine (PE) and phosphocholine (PC) were present and well resolved in most ³¹P spectra in the prostate. Glycerophosphocholine signals were observable in 43% of the voxels in malignant tissue, but in only 10% of the voxels in normal-appearing tissue away from the seminal vesicles. In many spectra, independent of tissue type, 2 peaks resonated in the chemical shift range of inorganic phosphate, possibly representing 2 separate pH compartments. The PC/PE ratio in the seminal vesicles was highly elevated compared with the prostate in 5 patients. A considerable overlap of ³¹P metabolite ratios was found between prostate cancer and normal-appearing prostate tissue, preventing direct discrimination of these tissues. The only 2 patients with high Gleason scores tumors (≥4+5) presented with high PC and glycerophosphocholine levels in their cancer lesions. Conclusions Phosphorus MRSI at 7 T shows distinct features of phospholipid metabolites in the prostate gland and its surrounding structures. In this exploratory study, no differences in ³¹P metabolite ratios were observed between prostate cancer and normal-appearing prostate tissue possibly because of the partial volume effects of small tumor foci in large MRSI voxels.

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Metadaten
Author:Miriam W. Lagemaat, Eline K. Vos, Marnix C. Maas, Andreas Bitz, Stephan Orzada, Mark J. van Uden, Thiele Kobus, Arend Heerschap, Tom W. J. Scheenen
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000000012
ISSN:1536-0210
Parent Title (English):Investigative Radiology
Publisher:Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Place of publication:Philadelphia, Pa.
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2014
Volume:49
Issue:5
First Page:363
Last Page:372
Link:https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000000012
Zugriffsart:campus
Institutes:FH Aachen / Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
collections:Verlag / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins