Use of perfluorocarbon compound in the endorectal coil to improve MR spectroscopy of the prostate

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of perfluorocarbon (PFC) compound compared with air in the endorectal coil in improving the quality of conventional MR spectroscopy of the prostate. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A total of 62 consecutively registered patients were selected. MR spectroscopy of the prostate was performed with PFC in the endorectal coil for 34 of the patients and with air for 28. In the cases of 13 of the 28 patients, MR spectroscopy was repeated with a PFC-filled endorectal coil. The spectral line widths and the spectral separations from MR spectroscopy with an air-filled endorectal coil were compared with those obtained with a PFC-filled coil. RESULTS. In all 62 patients, the mean line width values were reduced, from 13.3 ± 3.0 Hz with air to 7.3 ± 2.0 Hz with PFC (p = 0.0001, Student's t test). In 13 patients who underwent MR spectroscopy with air followed by MR spectroscopy with PFC, the mean line width values were reduced, from 14.8 ± 3.4 Hz with air to 7.0 ± 1.5 Hz with PFC (p = 0.0001, Student's t test). In 72 voxels analyzed for spectral separation, clear separations between the choline, polyamine, and creatine peaks were found in 57 voxels with PFC and four with air. Better splitting of the citrate peaks was found in 35 voxels with PFC and one with air. CONCLUSION. The use of PFC compound in the endorectal coil is a safe and cost-effective way to consistently generate high-quality prostate MR spectroscopic results and to substantially improve quantitation of prostatic metabolites. These improvements should increase the diagnostic value of MR spectroscopy in the care of patients with prostate cancer.