Does Abstinence From Ejaculation Before Prostate MRI Improve Evaluation of the Seminal Vesicles?

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Urology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Seminal vesicle (SV) evaluation is crucial for staging prostate cancer.
• Diagnostic interpretation of SVs on multiparametric MRI can be challenging.
• Patient factors, such as recent ejaculation, may influence SV size and image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if abstinence from ejaculation before multiparametric MRI increases seminal vesicle (SV) volume.
• To assess if increased SV volume improves the diagnostic interpretation of SVs.
• To evaluate the impact of ejaculation abstinence on SV evaluation in different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 238 patients undergoing 3-T prostate MRI.
• Patients categorized into two groups based on ejaculation interval: < 3 days (group 1) vs. ≥ 3 days (group 2).
• Seminal vesicle volumes measured manually; diagnostic interpretability scored by blinded radiologists. Statistical analysis included t-tests and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• Patients abstaining for ≥ 3 days (group 2) had significantly larger SV volumes compared to those abstaining < 3 days (group 1) (p=0.011).
• Interpretability scores were higher in group 2 (2.5) versus group 1 (2.0).
• Nondiagnostic scores were significantly lower in group 2 for both readers (p=0.01-0.03), particularly in men over 60.

Conclusions:

• Abstinence from ejaculation for 3 or more days before MRI enhances SV volume in men over 60.
• This prolonged abstinence may improve the diagnostic evaluation of SV invasion on multiparametric MRI.
• The effect of abstinence on SV volume and diagnostic interpretation is less pronounced in men aged 60 and younger.