Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic performance for extra-prostatic extension (EPE) and image quality among three image datasets: conventional T2-weighted images (T2WI(conv), slice thickness, 3 mm) and high-resolution thin-slice T2WI (T2WI(HR), 2 mm), with and without deep learning reconstruction (DLR) in patients with prostatic cancer (PCa). A total of 88 consecutive patients (28 EPE-positive and 60 negative) diagnosed with PCa via radical prostatectomy who had undergone 3T-MRI were included. Two independent reviewers performed a crossover review in three sessions, in which each reviewer recorded five-point confidence scores for the presence of EPE and image quality using a five-point Likert scale. Pathologic topographic maps served as the reference standard. For both reviewers, T2WI(conv) showed better diagnostic performance than T2WI(HR) with and without DLR (AUCs, in order, for reviewer 1, 0.883, 0.806, and 0.772, p = 0.0006; for reviewer 2, 0.803, 0.762, and 0.745, p = 0.022). The image quality was also the best in T2WI(conv), followed by T2WI(HR with DLR) and T2WI(HR without DLR) for both reviewers (median, in order, 3, 4, and 5, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, T2WI(conv) was optimal in regard to image quality and diagnostic performance for the evaluation of EPE in patients with PCa.