NMR in biomedicine
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Determination of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the prostate in men (n = 60) with raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) prior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy using endorectal DWI is reported. Patients were categorized into different groups based on their PSA levels. The mean ADC was calculated from a number of regions of interest (ROIs) for the whole of the peripheral zone (PZ) and the central gland (CG). ⋯ A plot between PSA and mean ADC for the PZ showed non-linear association with logarithmic decrease in ADC. The mean ADC of the CG was not significantly different in patients who were positive or negative for malignancy in biopsy. In addition, a cut-off value of 1.17 x 10(-3) mm2/s (sensitivity = 73% and specificity = 74%, area under the curve = 0.83) for the mean ADC for the whole of the PZ of patients was determined by using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to predict malignancy of the PZ.