Review
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World J Radiol. May 28, 2010; 2(5): 180-187
Published online May 28, 2010. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v2.i5.180
Multi-parametric MR imaging of transition zone prostate cancer: Imaging features, detection and staging
Arda Kayhan, Xiaobing Fan, Jacob Oommen, Aytekin Oto
Arda Kayhan, Xiaobing Fan, Jacob Oommen, Aytekin Oto, Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
Author contributions: Kayhan A wrote the article; Fan X organized the references and drafted the article; Oommen J collected and assembled the data; Oto A revised the article.
Correspondence to: Arda Kayhan, MD, Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. arda_kayhan@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-773-7021310 Fax: +1-773-8347448
Received: March 30, 2010
Revised: April 21, 2010
Accepted: April 28, 2010
Published online: May 28, 2010
Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been increasingly used in the evaluation of prostate cancer. As studies have suggested that the majority of cancers arise from the peripheral zone (PZ), MR imaging has focused on the PZ of the prostate gland thus far. However, a considerable number of cancers (up to 30%) originate in the transition zone (TZ), substantially contributing to morbidity and mortality. Therefore, research is needed on the TZ of the prostate gland. Recently, MR imaging and advanced MR techniques have been gaining acceptance in evaluation of the TZ. In this article, the MR imaging features of TZ prostate cancers, the role of MR imaging in TZ cancer detection and staging, and recent advanced MR techniques will be discussed in light of the literature.

Keywords: Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging; Prostate cancer; Transition zone