Feasibility Study of Low-dose Prostate CT Perfusion on Third-generation Dual-source CT

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Prostate cancer diagnosis often relies on biopsy, which can be invasive.
• CT perfusion imaging offers functional insights into tissue characteristics.
• Advancements in CT technology enable lower radiation doses for diagnostic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of low-dose prostate CT perfusion (pCTP) using a third-generation dual-source CT scanner.
• To assess perfusion parameters in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen undergoing biopsy.
• To differentiate between prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia with inflammation, and normal prostate tissue using pCTP.

Main Methods:

• Nine patients with elevated PSA underwent low-dose pCTP prior to prostate biopsy.
• Key perfusion parameters measured included blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability surface (PS), and time to peak (TTP).
• Effective dose (ED) was calculated for the pCTP examinations.

Main Results:

• The average effective dose for pCTP was 3.5±0.3 mSv.
• Prostate cancer exhibited significantly higher BF, BV, and PS, and lower TTP compared to normal prostate tissue.
• Prostate hyperplasia with chronic inflammation also showed significantly higher BF and PS, and lower TTP than normal tissue.
• Time to peak (TTP) was significantly lower in prostate cancer than in prostate hyperplasia with chronic inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Low-dose prostate CT perfusion (pCTP) is a feasible imaging technique on third-generation dual-source CT.
• Significant differences in BF, PS, and TTP exist between prostate cancer, inflammatory benign prostatic hyperplasia, and normal prostate tissue.
• pCTP shows potential for non-invasively characterizing prostate lesions.