BACKGROUND: To determine whether magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be used as a reliable denominator for the differentiation of prostatitis and prostate cancer (PCa) in the peripheral zone.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with unilateral peripheral zone PCa and 35 patients with unilateral peripheral zone prostatitis were recruited for this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRS were acquired on a 1.5T MR scanner. The ratios of (Cho+Cr)/Cit of hypo-intense T2 area were calculated. The mean ratios of (Cho+Cr)/Cit in hypo-intense T2 area of PCa and that of prostatitis were compared retrospectively by t-test. The citrate and choline amplitudes in the hypo-intense T2 area were compared with that in the contralateral normal peripheral zone tissue.

RESULTS: The mean ratios of (Cho+Cr)/Cit in the hypo-intense T2 area of PCa was 3.0±2.48, whereas that of prostatitis was 5.2±7.08, without significant statistical difference (p=0.306). A reduction in citrate was seen in both PCa and prostatitis tissue, however, choline was elevated in PCa tissue, whereas on the contrary, choline had no significant change in cases of prostatitis.

CONCLUSIONS: The mean ratios of (Cho+Cr)/Cit had no specificity in differentiation of PCa and prostatitis in the peripheral zone, however, the metabolic pattern showed promise as an adjunct to conventional imaging in differentiating prostatitis from PCa in the peripheral zone.

Keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Prostatic Neoplasms, Prostatitis