Value of T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging registration to reduce the postbiopsy hemorrhage effect for prostate cancer localization

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of T1/T2-weighted imaging (T1/T2WI) registration to reduce the postbiopsy hemorrhage effect for prostate cancer localization on prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Twenty-one men with pathology-proven prostate cancer who underwent preoperative MRI in a single institution were selected. The zonal anatomy was divided into 16 sections. T2WI, T1/T2-weighted registered imaging (T1/T2RI), T2WI combined with diffusion-weighted imaging (T2WI + DWI), and T1/T2RI combined with DWI (T1/T2RI + DWI) were scored for the likelihood of cancer by two radiology faculty members and two trainees, and were compared with histology results. Areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUCs) were used to assess diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: For the trainees (Reader 3 and Reader 4), the AUC values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for T1/T2RI (0.60 and 0.62, respectively) than for T2WI (0.54 and 0.56, respectively) in tumor detection, whereas no significant difference was observed for faculty members. There was no significant difference in AUC values between T1/T2RI and T2WI + DWI for all readers except for Reader 1. There was no additional diagnostic benefit for adding DWI with T1/T2RI for all readers. CONCLUSIONS: T1/T2WI registration is a feasible technique. For less experienced readers, T1/T2RI is better than T2WI in localization of prostate cancer.