MR imaging characteristics of noncancerous lesions of the prostate

Karen Lovett, Matthew D. Rifkin, Peter A. McCue, Hong Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radical prostatectomy specimens from 53 men with clinical stage A or B prostate cancer were retrospectively reviewed and compared with correlative axial T2‐weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained just before surgery. Non‐cancerous lesions were evaluated for signal intensity and location. Focal high‐signal‐intensity areas (n = 72) were present in 81% of patients. The 26% of lesions seen in the central gland all correlated with cystic atrophy. Of the 53 lesions seen in the peripheral prostate, 47 (89%) were cystic atrophy without associated cancer, four (7.5%) cystic atrophy with cancer, and two (3.8%) focal inflammation. Focal low‐signal‐intensity areas (n = 42) were present in 60% of patients. Of the 31% of lesions in the central prostate, one‐fifth correlated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and four‐fifths with fibrous tissue. Of the 69% of peripheral lesions, 83% corresponded to fibrous tissue, 10% to BPH, and 7% to normal tissue. Mixed lesions (n = 42) were present in 64% of patients; 86% of these were located centrally and 14% peripherally. All mixed central lesions were BPH; the peripheral lesions were areas of combined cystic atrophy and fibrosis. BPH of low or mixed signal intensity can extend into the peripheral prostate and mimic cancer. High‐intensity cystic atrophy associated with cancer can mimic normal tissue.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-39
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

Keywords

  • Prostate, MR, 844.1214
  • Prostate, cysts, 844.311
  • Prostate, hyperplasia, 844.316
  • Prostate, neoplasms, 844.32
  • Tissue characterization

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