To evaluate the utility of a multiparametric 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study using diffusion-weighted images (DWI) for the assessment of prostate cancer before and after radiotherapy (RT).
A total of 34 patients, who received a histologic diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma, underwent MRI examination before and after local RT for the assessment of response to treatment. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated and compared.
Before RT, DWI shows pathologic restriction of signal, while after RT pathologic restriction of signal was reduced or disappeared. The ADC values were significantly increased after therapy (p<0. 05).
The use of DWI with ADC measurements may be an imaging biomarker in the assessment of prostate cancer.
Tumori. 2015 Sep 04 [Epub ahead of print]
Giancarlo Iannelli, Rocchina Caivano, Luciana Rago, Vittorio Simeon, Antonella Lotumolo, Paola Rabasco, Antonio Villonio, Matilde Gioioso, Pietro Mastrangelo, Flavio Barchetti, Valeria Panebianco, Luca Macarini, Giuseppe Guglielmi, Aldo Cammarota
Radiology Department, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (Potenza) - Italy.