Clinical significance of adding 3 Tesla MRI to the algorithm for decision making on neurovascular bundle preservation...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the additional benefit of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging for neurovascular bundle preservation in radical prostatectomy.

We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent 3 T magnetic resonance imaging followed by radical prostatectomy from April 2010 through February 2014 in our university. A total of 50 patients (100 prostate sides) were included in the study. The algorithm previously we described and magnetic resonance imaging findings were considered for the decision on neurovascular bundle preservation. A tumor adjacent to the neurovascular bundle or with extracapsular extension of a posterolateral lesion of the prostate on magnetic resonance imaging was considered a contraindication for nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. Two experienced radiologists evaluated the magnetic resonance imaging findings. Patients who received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy were excluded. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy with at least 10 cores.

Overall, 60 of the 100 neurovascular bundles were preserved according to an algorithm that consisted of the clinical stage, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score and a positive biopsy core in the apex of the prostate. Considering magnetic resonance imaging findings together with the algorithm, six neurovascular bundles were not preserved. The accuracy of predicting a positive surgical margin only by the algorithm was 56 of 60 neurovascular bundle (93.3%). When adding magnetic resonance imaging, the accuracy was 50 of 54 neurovascular bundle (92.3%).

3 T magnetic resonance imaging provided no additional benefit to our algorithm for neurovascular bundle preservation.