Reliability of multiparametric prostatic MRI quantitative data in the evaluation of prostate cancer aggressiveness

Purpose

To compare the quantitative data of multiparametric prostatic MRI with Gleason scores of histopathological analysis.

Materials and methods

One hundred twenty-two patients performed Multiparametric MRI of the prostate. Functional MRI quantitative data (including diffusion with mean ADC value and spectroscopic metabolic ratio) where the DWI is employing b 50, 400, 800, 1000 and 2000 sec/mm² and multivoxel MR spectroscopy compared with of Gleason scores of histopathological results. Malignant cases are classified into three groups according to their Gleason score as group I with Gleason score ≤6, group II Gleason score 7, while Gleason score 8–10 stratified as Group III.

Results

The histopathological analysis reveals 78 malignant cases and 44 benign Cases. The significant statistical difference between group I and the other two groups (p < 0.001) regarding the quantitative mean ADC value and metabolic spectroscopic ratio. No significant statistical difference between group II and III with p = 0.2 for mean ADC difference and p = 0.8 for the metabolic spectroscopic ratio with a weak negative correlation between ADCand Gleason score [rs = ?0.26] and significant positive correlation (p = 0.02) for MRSI metabolic ratio [rs = 0.2].

Conclusion

The quantitative data of functional imaging of the prostate is reliable in evaluating prostatic cancer aggressiveness and proper construction of therapeutic plan.