Carcinoma prostatico: Confronto tra tomografia assiale computerizzata e risonanza magnetica nucleare nella stadiazione locale: Prostatic carcinoma: Comparison between computed tomography and magnetic resonance in local tumour staging

Abstract

We evaluated 20 patients with prostatic carcinoma who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. All patients were examined with CT scan (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) and the findings compared with definitive pathological stage. The neoplasia was correctly diagnosed in 19/20 patients with MR, but in no-one with CT. Sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of CT and MR were respectively: for capsular penetration 15%/20% and 36.8%/40%; for seminal vesicle involvement 20%/60% and 60%/80%; bladder involvement 25%/85% and 50%/90%; nodal involvement 0%/60% and 16.6%/65%. MR seems to be more reliable than CT in detecting seminal vesicle involvement. Nevertheless, neither MR nor CT gave an adequate evaluation of capsular penetration or tumour spread to lymph nodes.