Clinical prostate T2 quantification using magnetization‐prepared spiral imaging

T2 quantification may augment diagnostic T2‐weighted imaging; to improve cancer detection via auto‐segmentation of multi‐parametric acquisitions and to potentiate longitudinal studies of prostate cancer. However, robust quantitative techniques are not generally accessible or refined for clinical translation. This research describes the adaptation of a magnetization‐prepared spiral imaging technique, termed T2prep for prostate application, providing whole gland coverage within a 5‐min interval with considerable insensitivity to radio‐frequency (RF) inhomogeneities. Clinical piloting in two cohorts with distinct clinical histories demonstrated the anticipated differences in zonal and tumor T2, including tumor T2 shortening compared to peripheral zone, and post‐radiotherapy shortening of peripheral zone T2. SNR calculations were performed for data acquired with or without an endo‐rectal coil in tandem with a torso phased array, to judge the potential for voxel‐based T2 mapping and thereby support focal biological characterization of cancer, hypoxia, and response to therapy within regions of dense cancer burden. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.