[Prostate cancer imaging: MRI and nuclear imaging]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are increasingly utilized in prostate cancer diagnosis and management.
• Accurate staging and detection are crucial for effective treatment planning and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current role and advancements of mp-MRI and PET in prostate cancer.
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of these imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using the Medline database (PubMed).
• Keywords included MRI, PET MRI, and prostate cancer, exploring various combinations.

Main Results:

• Combined T2-weighted and advanced functional MRI techniques (diffusion-weighted, dynamic contrast-enhanced) enhance prostate cancer detection accuracy.
• mp-MRI offers superior accuracy in detection, localization, and staging, informing clinical management and therapy selection.
• PET imaging, particularly with 18F-choline, improves staging (node status, metastases) and can alter management, especially in cases of relapse. MR imaging-guided targeted biopsy is an emerging alternative to standard biopsy methods.

Conclusions:

• Modern imaging techniques like mp-MRI and PET show promising results for prostate cancer assessment.
• Future advancements include improved technology fusion (PET-MRI) and novel, more sensitive tracers.
• Enhanced bone scan protocols with integrated tomography also significantly improve diagnostic performance.