Prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia: correlation of high-resolution MR and histopathologic findings

High-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of 24 fresh radical prostatectomy specimens was performed on an experimental 1.9-T system. Direct correlation between the findings in 7-micron-thick macrosections and their corresponding MR images was possible. Fourteen patients had macroscopic evidence of cancer. In all 14 cases, the carcinoma nodules appeared as areas of low signal intensity on images obtained with a repetition time of 2,500 msec and an echo time of 80 msec. Ten of 14 nodules had well-defined margins and consisted of densely packed glandular elements, which displaced the surrounding normal glandular material of higher signal intensity. Ten specimens displayed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The MR characteristics of this entity were quite variable but relatively predictable, depending on the distribution and size of the glandular elements, as well as the composition of the surrounding stroma. In BPH, the changes began in the central portion of the gland. The areas of highest signal intensity corresponded to dilated glandular elements (cystic ectasia), while the areas of lowest signal intensity corresponded to collagen (scar) and fibromuscular stroma. Nodules of mixed glandular BPH and fibromuscular BPH were found to have signal intensities similar to those of well-differentiated nodules of prostatic adenocarcinoma.