This site requires JavaScript to be enabled to work properly. Please modify your settings or use a different browser to continue

       

You are now leaving GSK’s website

This link will take you to a non-GSK website. GSK does not recommend, endorse or accept liability for sites controlled by third-parties.

Continue

Go back

MRI imaging for characterisation of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has an estimated prevalence of 50–60% for men aged ≥60 years. Since optimal treatment options vary according to the different types of BPH, the diagnosis and classification of BPH are important for patient outcomes.1

Both ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess prostate structure, with US most frequently used for diagnosis of BPH. MRI is more frequently utilised in management of prostate cancer and allows estimation of prostatic volumes, enlargements of prostatic locations and stromal/glandular ratio for determination of treatment options.1

In this article, researchers from the Chicago School of Medicine retrospectively analysed MRI images from patients with histologically diagnosed BPH and presented the different types of BPH on MRI.1 


Type 1 (35%) and type 3 (46%) were the most common types
of BPH.1

BPH types on MRI are classified as:1

  • Type 0 – ≤25 cm3 prostate with little/no enlargement
  • Type 1 – bilateral transition zone enlargement
  • Type 2 – retrourethral enlargement
  • Type 3 – bilateral transition zone and retrourethral enlargement
  • Type 4 – solitary or multiple pedunculated enlargement
  • Type 5 – pedunculated with bilateral transition zone and/or retrourethral
    enlargement
  • Type 6 – subtrigonal or ectopic enlargement
  • Type 7 – other combinations of enlargements.


MRI is superior to US for differentiation of BPH from prostate cancer due to improved soft tissue contrast resolution.1

The authors concluded that MRI enables effective diagnosis and classification of BPH to facilitate diagnosis, management and treatment.1

Reference list

  1. Guneyli S, Ward E, Thomas S, Yousuf AN, Trilisky I, Peng Y, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To be published in Diagn Interv Radiol. [Preprint] 2016; doi: 10.5152/dir.2015.15361.