Progress in application of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in diagnosing prostate cancer

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression and metastasis of prostate cancer. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) can be used to plot the time signal intensity curve and calculates the semi-quantitative and quantitative perfusion parameters by gathering graphic information pre-, during- and after- contrast agent injection, reflecting the microcirculatory and hemodynamic changes of tumor tissue, thus can be used to quantitatively analyze prostate cancer. This paper describes research progress of DCE-MRI in qualitative diagnosis, semi-quantitative and quantitative analysis, staging, and therapeutic efficacy in prostate cancer. (authors)