Analysis of T1/T2 parametric maps with DESPO+ sequence in suspected prostate cancer

José M. González-del-Valle, Departamento de Radiología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Ronal Coronado, Facultad de Ingeniería y Negocios, Universidad de Las Américas; Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH); Santiago, Chile
Pablo Irarrázaval, Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH); Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Facultad de Ingeniería; Santiago, Chile
Marcelo Andía, Departamento de Radiología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH); Santiago, Chile
Javier Domínguez, Departamento de Urología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Cecilia Besa, Millennium Institute for Intelligent Healthcare Engineering (iHEALTH); Departamento de Radiología, Centro de Imágenes Biomédicas. Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago, Chile

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy among men in Chile. Multiparametric MRI has improved its detection; however, substantial interobserver variability persists. Quantitative T1 and T2 parametric maps offer additional tissue characterization, but their clinical use has been limited by long acquisition times and frequent artifacts in the prostate region. Objective: To evaluate the DESPO+ technique in patients with suspected PCa, determining whether the values obtained from T1 and T2 parametric maps agree with published reference ranges and whether they distinguish healthy tissue from biopsy-proven lesions. Material and methods: Forty men with clinical suspicion of PCa were included (mean age 63 ± 7 years; PSA 7 ± 9 ng/mL). Fifty percent presented PI-RADS ≥ 3 lesions, mainly in the peripheral zone, all confirmed histologically. Results: T1/T2 maps obtained with DESPO+ showed no relevant artifacts, and the quantitative values agreed with those reported in the literature. Significant differences were found across anatomical regions: in the peripheral zone both T1 and T2 values were lower in tumor tissue compared with healthy tissue, and no significant differences were observed in the transition zone. Conclusions: DESPO+ demonstrated clinical feasibility and potential to enhance the quantitative characterization of PCa. Larger cohorts and external validation are needed.

Keywords: Prostatic neoplasms. Magnetic resonance imaging. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Image processing.