MRI Prostrate Spectroscopy Protocol

Protocol for spectroscopic data acquisition of the MRI Prostrate

A multiple-volume system was utilized in the selection of the spectroscopic volume of interest, acquired by the commercially available sequence PRESS CSI 3D hybrid (TR 1,300 ms/TE 120 ms; FOV 60-100 cm²; voxel 0.10-0.22 cm³, 4-5 acquisitions) (Siemens Medical Systems; Erlangen, Germany), so as to minimize possible artifacts of the periprostatic structures.

The MRSI programming included T2-weighted sequences so as to evaluate the whole prostatic volume . Besides being freely angled, without any limitations for the spectroscopic acquisition, the MRSI sequence offered the possibility of using eight external saturation bars, thus minimizing the effects of the non homogenization of the field by the effect of magnetic susceptibility, originated from the air within the coil, bone structures, periprostatic fat, and presence of urine in the bladder and in the penile urethra.

For the prostate spectroscopy, spectral suppression was utilized both for water and fat, according to recommended in literature, making it possible for the lipids present in the prostate, not to interfere in the acquisition.