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Comparison of comfort and image quality with two endorectal coils in MRI of the prostate
Daniel K Powell1, Karen L Kodsi, Galina Levin
1Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Purpose:
To prospectively evaluate comfort and image quality of prostate MRI using two different endorectal (ER) coils.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty consecutive patients were prospectively randomized to receive prostate MRI using either a prostate endocoil (PEC) or colorectal endocoil (CEC). Patients and operators were surveyed with regard to endocoil placement. Four Body MRI trained radiologists rated image quality for each examination and additional selected blinded coronal T2 weighted images.
Results:
Average patient discomfort (on a 0-10 pain scale) was greater with the PEC (5.0 for PEC and 2.7 for CEC) with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.03). Ability to identify the neurovascular bundle (NVB) was 5.8 times more likely to be rated excellent with the CEC compared with the PEC (P < 0.003). Image quality with CEC was 3.5 times more highly rated (P < 0.04). In particular, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with the CEC was 3.0 times more highly rated than with the PEC (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The smaller CEC was better tolerated by patients than the traditional PEC, and resulted in at least equivalent, and in some instances improved image quality. This may result in fewer aborted cases and lead to decreased procedural intolerance to endorectal coil MRI.
Insights
A smaller colorectal endocoil (CEC) for prostate MRI is more comfortable and provides better image quality than the traditional prostate endocoil (PEC). This leads to improved patient tolerance and potentially fewer aborted procedures.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Prostate MRI is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Endorectal coils (ER coils) enhance image quality but can cause patient discomfort.
- Evaluating different ER coil designs is important for optimizing patient experience and diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare patient comfort and image quality between a prostate endocoil (PEC) and a colorectal endocoil (CEC) for prostate MRI.
Main Methods:
- Prospective randomized study of 30 patients undergoing prostate MRI.
- Patients and operators assessed comfort after coil placement.
- Radiologists evaluated image quality, including neurovascular bundle visualization and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Main Results:
- The colorectal endocoil (CEC) was associated with significantly lower patient discomfort (2.7 vs. 5.0 on a 0-10 pain scale).
- Excellent visualization of the neurovascular bundle was 5.8 times more likely with CEC.
- Overall image quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were rated significantly higher with CEC.
Conclusions:
- The smaller CEC is better tolerated than the PEC for prostate MRI.
- CEC offers equivalent or improved image quality, including superior SNR and NVB visualization.
- Using CEC may reduce aborted procedures and improve patient tolerance for endorectal coil MRI.
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