Radiologic anatomy of the prostate gland: a clinical approach

Familiarity with normal anatomy is critical to interpretation of imaging of the prostate and peri-prostatic structures. This is especially true for MR imaging, which depicts these structures with exquisite detail due to high spatial resolution, superior contrast resolution, multiplanar capability, and large field of view. Anatomic understanding plays a key role in the assessment and management of prostatic disease, and allows evaluation of anatomic disturbances that may result from prostatic disease or therapy, and which may have functional consequences, particularly for continence and potency.