Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an ablative therapy with a low side-effect profile in prostate cancer. The objective was: 1) To compare the volumetric IRE ablation zone on grey-scale transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) with histopathology findings; 2) To determine a reliable imaging modality to visualize the IRE ablation effects accurately.
A prospective phase I-II study was performed in 16 patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy (RP). IRE of the prostate was performed 4 weeks before RP. Prior to, and 4 weeks after the IRE treatment, imaging was performed by TRUS, CEUS, and mpMRI. 3D-analysis of the ablation volumes on imaging and on H&E-stained whole-mount sections was performed. The volumes were compared and the correlation was calculated.
Evaluation of the imaging demonstrated that with T2-weighted MRI, dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI, and CEUS, effects of IRE are visible. T2MRI and CEUS closely match the volumes on histopathology (Pearson correlation r = 0. 88 resp. 0. 80). However, IRE is not visible with TRUS.
mpMRI and CEUS are appropriate for assessing IRE effects and are the most feasible imaging modalities to visualize IRE ablation zone. The imaging is concordant with results of histopathological examination.
• mpMRI and contrast-enhanced ultrasound are appropriate imaging modalities for assessing IRE effects • mpMRI and CEUS are the most feasible imaging modalities to visualize IRE ablation zone • The imaging is concordant with results of histopathological examination after IRE • Grey-scale US is insufficient for assessing IRE ablations.
European radiology. 2015 Oct 08 [Epub ahead of print]
Willemien van den Bos, D M de Bruin, A van Randen, M R W Engelbrecht, A W Postema, B G Muller, I M Varkarakis, A Skolarikos, C D Savci-Heijink, R R Jurhill, P J Zondervan, M P Laguna Pes, H Wijkstra, T M de Reijke, J J M C H de la Rosette
Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , 2nd Department of Urology, University of Athens, Sismanoglio General Hospital, 1 Sismanogliou Street, 151 26, Marousi, Greece. , 2nd Department of Urology, University of Athens, Sismanoglio General Hospital, 1 Sismanogliou Street, 151 26, Marousi, Greece. , Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. , Department of Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.