ESTRO Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer 2018

mpMR imaging after EBRT

- EBRT causes overall changes in signal intensity and structure of the prostate

- The irradiated prostate appears smaller as a result of gland atrophy and differentiation of the zones is made difficult by effacement of the prostatic tissue

- The entire prostate appears more hypointense on T2w imaging inducing difficulties in the:

- differentiation between central and peripheral zone - distinction between benign and tumour tissues

- Sensitivity for T2w alone is varies between 36% and 75% and specificity ranged fro m65% to 81% (Sala et al.)

So: limited value of T2w in this setting.