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Is there a Histopathologic Correlation of Prostatic PI-RADS Score 3 Lesions in Transition Zone in MRI with the Dynamic Contrast Curve Type? A Retrospective Single-center Study

Sigmund Stuppner, Antonio Ruiu

Sigmund Stuppner, Antonio Ruiu, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology of the Bolzano Hospital, Italy

Conflict-of-interest statement: The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Correspondence to: Sigmund Stuppner, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology of the Bolzano Hospital, Italy
Email: stuppnersigmund@web.de
Telephone: +00390471-908494

Received: February 26, 2019
Revised: April 7, 2019
Accepted: April 10, 2019
Published online: May 19, 2019

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation of classified PI-RADS score 3 lesions in TZ with dynamic enhancement in multiparametric-prostatic MRI.

METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 24 patients over a period of two years. Contrast curve types of prostatic PI-RADS 3 lesions in the TZ were elaborated with a dedicated MRI-software. Histopathologic results after prostatic biopsies were evaluated to determine, if there is a correlation with any curve type after endovenous contrast medium.

RESULTS: We found no significant statistical correlation between the curve type and the histopathological results in the transition zone of the prostate.

CONCLUSIONS: Contrast enhancement evaluation to determine specific curve types in focal prostatic PI-RADS 3 lesions in the transition zone has no diagnostic value.

Key Points: (1) Transition Zone (TZ)- prostatic cancer is more difficult to detect with trans-rectal biopsy than prostatic cancer in the PZ. (2) Dynamic contrast enhanced perfusion-MRI does not improve the localization and characterization of prostatic PI-RADS 3 lesions in the TZ

Key words: Prostate; Perfusion; Biopsy

© 2019 The Author(s). Published by ACT Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stuppner S, Ruiu A. Is there a Histopathologic Correlation of Prostatic PI-RADS Score 3 Lesions in Transition Zone in MRI with the Dynamic Contrast Curve Type? A Retrospective Single-center Study. International Journal of Radiology 2019; 6(1): 217-220 Available from: URL: http://www.ghrnet.org/index.php/ijr/article/view/2351

Abbreviations

TZ: Transition zone PZ: Peripheric zone PI RADS: Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System PSA: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) DCEP-MRI: Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion MRI mp-MRI: multiplanar-MRI EWS: Extended Workstation (EWS) PZpm: Peripheric zone postero-medial ROI: Region of interest BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer type in males, but only about 20-30% of prostatic cancer originate in the TZ. The diagnosis is based on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in males over 40 years and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. Prostate multiparametric MRI is indicated in patients with increasing PSA values (over 2.5-3 ng/mL) and negative prostate biopsies and in patients with suspected trans-rectal palpation results. Multiparametric-magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) is indicated in localization and staging of clinically significant prostate cancer. Today every prostatic mp-MRI is performed with contrast agent, to assess the dynamic contrast perfusion (Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion MRI) of prostatic tissue. In 2015, with the support of the American College of Radiology, was developed the PI-RADS Version 2. The goal was to promote global standardization and to reduce variability in reporting Prostatic MRI[1]. DCEP MRI can be useful in combination with T2 Sequences and DWI-Imaging in the characterization of focal prostatic lesions in the peripheric (PZ) and in the transition zone (TZ). Furthermore, enhancement alone is not definitive for clinically significant prostate cancer, and absence of early enhancement does not exclude the possibility [2].

The transition zone (TZ)

The TZ surrounds the part of the prostatic urethra, that passes through the prostate. This zone gets bigger with increasing age, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). TZ prostate cancers have a relatively lower Gleason score[3], local stage[4] and biochemical recurrence rate[5] in comparison with peripheral zone cancers prostate cancer. Transition zone (TZ) tumors are estimated to account for approximately 30% of prostate cancer cases and pose a clinical challenge because of the difficulty of their detection[6,7].

Material and Methods

This single center retrospective study was performed from two radiologists with an experience over 10 years. There wasn’t a conflict of interest anytime. We conducted a systematic review to identify patients with typical PI-RADS 3 lesions in the TZ.

All patients presented a previous negative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy and were sent by urologists after performing PSA blood test and negative transrectal examination. Median age of all patient was 65 and the median PSA level was 8 ng/ml. Exclusion criteria of our study were patients with active surveillance biopsies, a bad compliance with consecutive motion artifacts and patients with first biopsies.

We retrospectively found 24 patients with clear radiological diagnosed PI-RADS 3 lesions in the TZ. MRI examinations were performed all on the same MRI scanner manufactured by Philips at a field strength of 1.5 Tesla using a standardized MRI protocol that included T2-weighted imaging in axial, sagittal and coronal axis (TR: 3000-4761.01; TE: 120; slice thickness: 3-3.5 mm; Percent Phase Field of View of 100; Acquisition Matrix: 216 × 175), an axial T1- weighted imaging (TR: 427.59; TE: 10; slice thickness: 5 mm; Percent Phase Field of View of 90.48; Acquisition Matrix: 300 × 293), axial DWI sequences (single-shot spin-echo EPI sequences with b-values from 0-2.000 s/mm2; TR: 3000 ms; TE: 94.62 ms; slice thickness: 3,5 mm; Percent Phase Field of View of 88.89; Acquisition Matrix: 68 × 67) and a axial DCE-MRI sequences ( TR: 3.89; TE: 1.82; slice thickness: 4 mm; Percent Phase Field of View of 90,29; Acquisition Matrix: 176 × 174, 30-40 phases) after a bolus of Gd- DTPA (Gadovist, Bayer AG) at a constant dose of 0.1 mmol/kg and a rate of 2 ml/s for all patients. After the exam all sequences were sent to the Med Station (Extended MR Workstation (EWS).

To evaluate a specific curve type (0 = non-diagnostic curve, 1= curve type 1, 2 = curve type, 2 and 3 = curve type 3), we positioned an oval ROI over every suspected T2 lesion in the TZ with signs of DWI-restriction signs.

Statistical analysis

Data was analyzed using R-Studio version 3.3.2. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Figure 1 Curve types [1].

Figure 2 The orange numbers represent the different histopathologic results and the blue numbers the different curve types.

RESULTS

All 24 patients with confirmed radiological PI-RADS 3 lesions in the prostatic transition zone are presented in Table 1. We correlated the histopathological results with specific numbers (Table 2), to calculate the Pearson’s product-moment correlation between curve types and histopathological results with a value of R correlation of - 0.0787, and a p-value of 0.7148 (Table 3). Although technically a negative correlation, the relationship between our variables was only weak (the nearer the value is to zero, the weaker the relationship). In our retrospective study the size of the suspected T2 lesions in the TZ wasn’t considered. We found 9 patients with curve type 0 (37.5%), 4 patients with curve type 1 (16.6%), 10 patients with curve type 2 (41.6%) and 2 patients with curve type 3 (8.3%). Forms of chronic prostatitis were the most histological result (18 patients - 75%).

Clinical significant adenocarcinoma was found in only 4 patients (16,6%).

Table 1 Location, curve types and histopathologic results.
PatientLocationCurve typeHistopathologic result
ATZ left midgland rapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement - type 2chronic atrophic prostatitis
BTZ anterior/posterior basalrapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement -type 2chronic prostatitis
CTZ anterior basal rightrapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement -type 2chronic prostatitis
DTZ left apicalrapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement -type 2secretory stasis and aspecific moderate chronic prostatitis
ETZ right apicalslowly increasing curve with continuous enhancement- type 1 curvefocal riacutized chronic prostatitis
FTZ right anterior apical nondiagnostic curveadenocarcinoma Gleason Score 6 (3+3) - pT2c G1
GTZ anterior mid left nondiagnostic curve focal riacutized chronic prostatitis
HTZ anterolateral basal left slowly increasing curve with continuous enhancement- type 1 curveadenocarcinoma Gleason Score 7 (3+4) - pT2 G2
ITZ anterior basal right slowly increasing curve with continuous enhancement- type 1 curvefocal riacutized chronic prostatitis
JTZ anterior right basal rapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement -type 2secretory stasis and microlithiasis
KTZ left mid gland rapid increasing curve with slowly wash out-type 3focal riacutized chronic prostatitis
LTZ apical pl left rapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement -type 2focal riacutized chronic prostatitis
MTZ apical pl right rapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement - type 2chronic atrophic prostatitis
NTZ basal posterior right nondiagnostic curvefocal riacutized chronic prostatitis
OTZ a basal right nondiagnostic curve focal chronic prostatitis
PTZ anterior midgland right rapid increasing curve with continuous enhancement - type 2adenocarcinoma GS 6-7 (3+3/3+4)
QTZ anterolateral basal left rapid increasing curve with slowly wash out-type 3acute bacterial prostatitis
RTZ apical anterior right nondiagnostic curveadenocarcinoma GS 6 (3+3)
STZ anterior basal right nondiagnostic curvechronic atrophic prostatitis
TTZ anterior basal right nondiagnostic curvechronic atrophic prostatitis
UTZ anterior midgland left rapid increasing curve type with continous enhancement - type 2focal chronic prostatitis
VTZ apical anterior left slowly increasing curve with continuous enhancement- type 1acute bacterial prostatitis
WTZ posterior midgland left rapid increasing curve with continous enhancement- type 2chronic atrophic prostatitis
XTZ apical anterior right nondiagnostic curvefocal chronic prostatitis
YTZ apical posterior rightnondiagnostic curvefocal riacutized prostatitis

Table 2 Correlation between curve types and histopathological result.
PatientCurve typeHistopathologic result
A2chronic atrophic prostatitis =1
B2chronic prostatitis = 2
C2chronic prostatitis = 2
D2secretory stasis and aspecific moderate chronic prostatitis= 3
E1focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
F0adenocarcinoma Gleason Score 6 (3+3) - pT2c G1= 5
G0focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
H1adenocarcinoma Gleason Score 7 (3+4) - pT2 G2= 5
I1focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
J2secretory stasis and microlithiasis= 3
K3focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
L2focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
M2chronic atrophic prostatitis= 1
N0focal riacutized chronic prostatitis= 4
O0focal chronic prostatitis= 2
P2adenocarcinoma GS 6-7 (3+3/3+4) = 5
Q3acute bacterial prostatitis= 6
R0adenocarcinoma GS 6 (3+3) = 5
S0chronic atrophic prostatitis= 1
T2chronic atrophic prostatitis= 1
U1focal chronic prostatitis= 2
V1acute bacterial prostatitis= 6
W2chronic atrophic prostatitis= 1
X0focal chronic prostatitis= 2
Y0focal riacutized prostatitis= 4
Curve type 0 = non-diagnostic curve

Table 3 Result Details & Calculation.
X Values ∑ = 30 Mean = 1.25
∑ (X - Mx)2 = SSx = 24.5
Y Values ∑ = 80 Mean = 3.333
∑ (Y - My)2 = SSy = 59.333
X and Y Combined
N = 24 ∑ (X - Mx) (Y - My) = -3
R Calculation
r = ∑ ((X - My) (Y - Mx)) / √((SSx)(SSy))
r = -3 / √ ((24.5) (59.333)) = -0.0787
Meta Numerics (cross-check)
r = -0.0787
X: X Values; Y: Y Values; Mx: Mean of X Values; My: Mean of Y Values; X - Mx & Y - My: Deviation scores; (X - Mx)2 & (Y - My)2: Deviation Squared; (X - Mx) (Y - My): Product of Deviation Scores

DISCUSSION

Prostatic lesions located in the transition zone are detected first with T2w sequences, the dominant sequences in PI-RADS v2 [8]. Signal intensity in a lesion should be visually compared to the average signal of “normal” transition zone. PI-RADS 3 lesions are characterized as heterogeneous signal intensity with obscured margins (and include characteristics that do not qualify as PI-RADS 2, 4, or 5), together with focal mildly to moderately hypointense on ADC, and isointense to mildly hyperintense on high b-value DWI. The interpretation of the transition zone is considered to provide a greater challenge than the peripheral zone. While a normal peripheral zone is brightly hyperintense on T2w images, and therefore hypointense abnormalities can be easily identified, the transition zone shows heterogeneous signal intensities related to the presence of nodules of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and therefore the identification of suspicious abnormalities can be more difficult[9]. In our opinion radiologist tend sometimes to overestimate prostatic suspected lesions in the TZ, so a second opinion from another radiologist is indicated. We also reviewed the sizes of each T2-lesion in the TZ which we characterized as PI-RADS 3 lesions. The 4 lesions that resulted as prostatic carcinoma had a maximal axial diameter of 5 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm and 8 mm, considering, that our study has several limitations, like the small number, the single center study and the lack of interobserver reliability.

To understand the contrast distribution in pathologic TZ tissue, we must analyze the microscopic architecture. A study from 2012 revealed that the microvasculature of transition zone tumor showed increased heterogeneity compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia and peripheral zone tumors, possibly explaining the difficulty of TZ tumor detection on DCEP-MRI. Comparing TZ tumor to normal TZ, a tendency towards an increase in the extend of the vascularity was observed in TZ tumors[10]. There is a similar study from 2015[1], analyzing the perfusion curve types from prostatic adenocarcinomas, but in the peripheric zone. To understand the micro-perfusion of chronic prostatitis in the TZ we must analyze the “prostatic microcosmos” The key histologic features of prostate carcinoma pertinent to MR imaging are increased cellular density, decreased luminal volume, reduced extracellular space, and neoangiogenesis[11] A study from 2010 showed the histologic mimickers of prostatic adenocarcinoma, like atrophy, crowded benign glands, adenosis (atypical adenomatous hyperplasia), and basal cell hyperplasia, depending on the study and type of tissue sample. In a review of 535 consecutive needle biopsies, 7 (1.3%) were classified as false-positives. These 7 cases comprised 5 cases of adenosis (atypical adenomatous hyperplasia) and 2 cases of atrophy. A second investigation on needle core biopsy tissue found partial atrophy and crowded benign glands to be the most frequent benign mimickers of prostatic carcinoma[12]. In prostatitis, a frequent finding in our study, an increased vessel leakiness can mimic a curve type 3 with rapid contrast extravasation and slowly “wash out”.

The problematic of prostatic tissue characterization, in particular of the TZ, is the post biopsy microarchitecture transformation of prostatic tissue, although a study from 2017 concluded that a biopsy-induced hemorrhage in the prostate gland is not absorbed sufficiently over time and the extent of hemorrhage and the short interval between biopsy and MRI may not impair tumor detection or staging on multiparametric MRI[13]. In our opinion another fact to consider is the post-biopsy focal fibrosis formation in the TZ, a factor that can cause alteration of prostatic perfusion and of the curve types In conclusion, we suggest, that radiologists should overthink contrast administration in non-suspected PI-RADS 4 or 5 lesions after visualizing T2 and diffusion weighted images.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this review suggests that EPI is associated with impaired Zn metabolism and abnormal Zn status. Clinicians dealing with EPI should be aware of clinical manifestations of Zn deficiency while ensuring adequacy of PERT use and dietary Zn intake. Further research is needed to better investigate Zn metabolism in EPI. The true effectiveness of Zn supplementation in this setting and the type of Zn supplementation should be explored. Based on this review, Zn supplementation cannot be routinely recommended.

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