Multiparametric MRI Features and Pathologic Outcome of Wedge-Shaped Lesions in the Peripheral Zone on T2-Weighted Images of the Prostate

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) characteristics and pathologic outcome of wedge-shaped lesions observed on T2-weighted images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-six patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer underwent preoperative 3-T MRI before undergoing radical prostatectomy. Two radiologists worked in consensus to mark wedge-shaped regions of hypointensity on T2-weighted images and assess their appearance on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps (to determine the degree of hypointensity) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI (DCE-MRI) (to assess whether they showed early enhancement). The pathologic outcome of wedge-shaped lesions was assessed by matching MR images with whole-mount histologic specimens retrospectively. The difference in quantitative ADC values between malignant and benign wedge-shaped lesions was assessed using a t test. RESULTS: /ms). CONCLUSION: This study shows that a greater percentage of wedge-shaped features are malignant than was previously thought. Of importance, mpMRI (specifically, ADC maps) can distinguish between malignant and benign wedge-shaped features.