Multiparametric MRI Prostatic Lesion Evaluation

MRI included the following pulse sequences: tri-plane T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient maps and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. All scans were performed on 3 T MRI (Achieva, Philips, Cleveland, OH, USA) used in combination with both an endorectal coil (BPX-30, Medrad, Pittsburgh, PA, USA) and a cardiac coil (16-channel; SENSE, Philips). The images were read by two experienced radiologists (BT, PC with 9 and 12 years of experience, respectively) and lesions were assigned suspicion scores using a previously National Institutes of Health-validated scoring system.^{18 (link)} Although PIRADSv2 is the current method by which prostatic MRI lesions are evaluated, this method for image interpretation was not applied to this patient population as the prospective data procurement for this study were initiated in 2007; institution of PIRADSv2 began in January 2015 and is currently being validated.^{19 ,20 (link)}