Brachytherapy for prostate cancer: Endorectal mr imaging of local treatment-related changes

Fergus V. Coakley, Hedvig Hricak, Antje E. Wefer, Joycelyn L. Speight, John Kurhanewicz, Mack Roach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the local treatment-related endorectal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings after brachytherapy for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endorectal MR imaging was performed in 35 consecutive patients at a mean interval of 12 months (range, 1-31 months) after brachytherapy for prostate cancer. Transverse T1-weighted and high-spatial-resolution transverse and coronal T2-weighted images were acquired. Two readers reviewed MR image quality and findings, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Posttreatment urinary symptoms in patients (n = 24) were documented by using chart review. RESULTS: All studies were of diagnostic quality. On T2-weighted images, prostatic findings consisted of diffuse low signal intensity (n = 35) and indistinct zonal anatomy (n = 34). Intra- and extraprostatic seed locations could be distinguished. The most common extraprostatic site of seed implantation was the neurovascular bundles (n = 35, bilateral in 32). The most common extraprostatic tissue finding was increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the levator ani muscle (n = 34) and the genitourinary diaphragm (n = 28). Postbrachytherapy urinary symptoms showed no demonstrable correlation with periurethral or genitourinary sympphragm seed implantation or with signal intensity change in the genitourinary diaphragm. CONCLUSION: Endorectal MR imaging can be used to evaluate seed distribution and to demonstrate treatment-related changes after brachytherapy for prostate Cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)817-821
Number of pages5
JournalRADIOLOGY
Volume219
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Prostate neoplasms, MR, 844.32
  • Prostate neoplasms, therapeutic radiology, 844.12168, 844.32
  • Radiations, injurious effects, complications of therapeutic radiology, 84.47

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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