Nuclear magnetic resonance in urologic malignant diseases, 2

Experience and evaluation of NMR imaging of the ten patients with prostatic carcinoma were reported. The NMR imager, Toshiba model MRT 15A with magnet of 1500 gauss, was used. Images were produced in transverse, coronal and sagittal directions with different repetition times, delay times and echo times. T1 value over regions of the prostatic cancer was measured and compared with the value of the benign prostate hypertrophy. In all cases there was high inherent contrast differentiation of prostate gland, pelvic fat, urine in the bladder and gas in the bowel. The characteristic images of the prostatic cancer were demonstrated. The differentiation of prostatic cancer from benign prostate hypertrophy was not made distinctly by the intensity of the images. But the T1 value suggested the feasibility of the differentiation between the prostatic cancer and the benign prostate hypertrophy. The blood flow information on NMR images provided useful diagnostic information in evaluating vascular lesions or lymphatic involvement. The ability to display in sagittal and coronal planes in addition to the transverse plane is of very distinct advantage, allows accurate volumetric measurements and delineates the extent of the disease much more precisely than transverse scan alone. In our experience is confirmed when larger numbers of patients are imaged, NMR imaging will assume a prominent role in the clinical evaluation of cancer of the prostate. (author)