Reproductive: Prostate Flashcards
Brown area
Fibromuscular zone
Yellow area
Peripheral zone
Note: This is where most prostate cancers are found.
Blue area
Central zone
Note: Don’t confuse this with the “central gland” which refers to the central and transitional zones together.
Green area
Transition zone
The blue and green areas are collectively referred to as…
The central gland
Note: Don’t confuse this with the central zone, which is just the blue area.
Which prostate zone is the most T2 bright?
The peripheral zone
What is the most common location of prostate adenocarcinoma?
The peripheral zone (70%)
Note: Followed by transition zone (20%) and central zone (10%).
What is the most common location for BPH nodules?
The central gland (central and transitional zones)
Where is the apex of the prostate?
The inferior tip (mostly peripheral zone)
MRI features of prostate cancer
- T2 dark mass in peripheral zone (T2 bright background)
- Restricted diffusion
- Type 3 enhancement (early enhancement with washout)
If ______, then prostate cancer has probably not metastasized to bone
PSA < 20
What imaging study is usually used to look for prostate metastases?
Bone scan
Think prostate cancer
Note: T2 dark mass in the peripheral zone.
Prostate cancer
Note: Restricted diffusion in a T2 dark mass in the peripheral zone.
What is the most important imaging feature in determining treatment for prostate cancer?
Mass extension through the prostate capsule (on imaging, appears as a focal bulging of the capsule or frank extension through it)
Note: This upgrades the cancer from stage 2 to stage 3.
What defines stage 3 prostate cancer?
Cancer extension through the prostate capsule
Note: Once through the prostate capsule, cancer can then invade the seminal vesicles, nerve bundle, etc.
What are signs of prostate cancer extension through the prostate capsule (i.e. stage 3 disease)?
- Bulging of the capsule (or frank invasion)
- Loss of the fat plane between the prostate and rectum
- Neuromuscular bundle asymmetry
- Loss of the normal T2 bright signal in a seminal vesicle
What features suggest that a prostate cancer is clinically significant/worrying?
- Gleason score of 8 or higher
- Cancer volume > 0.5 mL
- Cancer extension through the prostate capsule (stage 3 disease)
Note: Prostate cancers with Gleason scores < 6 and PSA < 10 may be clinically insignificant (a lot of incidental prostate cancers were found when we started screening with PSA).