Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have found that MRI can help determine if cancer is restricted to the prostate gland or if it has spread beyond the capsule.
The study retrospectively reviewed MRI reports and pathology reports of 119 patients who were referred for prostate MRI prior to prostatectomy.
Results showed that MRI correctly identified 87 of 92 (95%) patients with T2 disease, which means the cancer is confined to the organ. MRI also correctly identified six of eight (75%) patients with T3 disease, which indicates cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
MRI's ability to differentiate between T2 and T3 disease was noted with sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 55%, and negative predictive value of 98%. MRI's ability to determine capsular involvement was noted with sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 74%, positive predictive value of 86%, and negative predictive value of 54%.
Lead author Dr. Timothy McClure presented results of the study on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) in Boston.
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