前立腺および膀胱頸部病変における経直腸的MRIの有用性

Abstract

経直腸的なサーフェスコイルを用いたMRIの膀胱頸部および前立腺疾患における有用性について15例を対象に検討した。1)経直腸的MRIは安全に施行でき, body coil画像に比べより解像力に優れ, 詳細な情報がえられることが示唆された。2)前立腺の内部構造が明確に描出され, 前立腺癌および肥大症などの前立腺腫瘍性疾患の画像診断に有用と考えられた。3)膀胱腫瘍においては, 通常画像診断が困難とされている膀胱頸部腫瘍のステージングにおいても有用である

Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an endorectal surface coil has been evaluated basically and clinically. This new modality obtained increased resolution magnetic resonance images of the pathologic conditions of the prostate and bladder. Compared with images obtained with a body coil, the surface coil images clearly demonstrate prostatic intraglandular zonal anatomy. The clear images of prostatic capsule and neurovascular bundle seen on the surface coil may contribute to the local staging of prostate cancer. The staging diagnosis of bladder tumor located in the bladder neck will be the best candidate for endorectal MRI. Enhancement with gadolinium may improve the ability to differentiate superficial from deep bladder-wall tumors. We concluded that endorectal MRI is safely performed and is extremely useful for the local staging of prostate cancer and bladder neck tumor. Further studies will be required to evaluate the clinical significance of this new modality.