3D MR spectroscopic and diffusion-weighted imaging of prostate cancer with phased-array surface coil at 3 T for tumor definition in the intensity-modulated radiation therapy

Purpose: Serum prostate-specific antigen screening, digital rectal examination, and transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies are the major methods for clinical diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer, but their low sensitivity and specificity as well as multifocal nature of disease in most patients demand a more appropriate method for accurate localization and staging. In this prospective cross-sectional study, a combination of MR spectroscopic, diffusion-, and T2-weighted imaging were implemented to optimize the intensity-modulated radiation therapy by definition of dominant intraprostatic tumors. Methods and Ma…