ABSTRACT
Spectroscopic imaging through in vivo magnetic resonance has made a major impact in a wide range of areas related to prostate cancer diagnostics and clinical decision making. Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) alone, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) has substantially improved the accuracy with which prostatic tumor and extracapsular extension are detected, as well as helping to distinguish cancerous prostate from benign prostatic hypertrophy. The major breakthroughs in prostate cancer diagnostics have relied heavily upon assessment of the metabolic characteristics of larger areas of suspected tumor, peri-tumoral regions and normal tissue. MRSI may help identify aggressive prostate cancer. A strong linear correlation has been reported between with cancer aggressiveness, as gauged by the Gleason grade, a decrease in citrate and increased choline. Pade-optimized MRSI with its capability to unequivocally resolve and quantify multiplet resonances and otherwise exceedingly challenging spectra with many overlapping resonances could undoubtedly provide valuable information for improving prostate cancer diagnostics.
