MR Imaging Study Of The Neurovascular Bundle Around Normal Prostate And Prostate Cancer

ObjectiveTo study the anatomy of the prostate and around which the course and distribution of the neurovascular bundle (NVB) in MR imaging and the condition of the cancer invading the NVB to provide relevant aids with the choices of the clinical operations.Method1. 20 healthy male volunteers (ages from 24 to 49) without history of prostate diseases and operations were underwent scanning by using a 3.0T MR setting to obtain the MR pictures of the NVB around the prostate. Analyzed the imaging characteristics of T2WI and T1WI.2. 15 patients with prostate cancer (ages from 53 to 79). All of them underwent scanning by using a 3.0T MR setting to obtain the MR pictures of the condition of the cancer invading the NVB. Results1. The normal prostate looked like sphere in T2WI imaging. Based on T1WI imaging, the most common site of the NVB is in the posterolateral around the prostate. The course and distribution of the NVB were found into two situations: First, the NVB looked like bounding located the posterolateral around the prostate. Second, the NVB spread diffusely the surrounding of the prostate.2. 15 patients with definite prostate cancer in T2WI and DWI imaging. One patient has localized cancer, 14 patients'cancer invaded the capsule and metastasis. In T1WI imaging, 21 laterals with definite NVB, 9 laterals with probable NVB formation. The fat gap within prostate capsule and NVB, 12 narrowed down, 11 dispersed, 7 had normal gaps.ConclusionMR was known as a no radiation, economic and simple examinational approach and played an important role in comprehending the areas of the neurovascular bundle around normal prostate. It explored properly the condition of the cancer and invaded extent of NVB. MRI could offer valuable anatomy information to the nerve sparing radical prostatectomy.