Clinical efficacy of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the detection of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental group consisted of 20 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. The sensitivity, positive predictive value and accuracy of the detection of prostate cancer in the 12 sections of the peripheral zone were calculated for prostate biopsy alone, 1H-MRS alone and the combination of these methods, respectively. RESULTS The sensitivity, the positive predictive value, and the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of prostate cancer were 43.7%, 68.9% and 54.6%, respectively, with prostate biopsy alone; 60.6%, 87.8% and 71.4% with 1H-MRS alone; and 88.7%, 88.7% and 87.4% with the combination of biopsy and 1H-MRS, respectively. Combined use of biopsy and 1H-MRS significantly improved the sensitivity, positive predictive value and accuracy of the diagnosis. CONCLUSION 1H-MRS together with biopsy might improve the diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer.