We evaluate the feasibility of
proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) using a spine coil receiver (body coil) in the diagnosis of
carcinoma prostate. Seventeen patients with biopsy-proven prostate
carcinoma, five patients of
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and five healthy young volunteers underwent (1)H MRS investigation. MRS was performed at 1.5 Tesla using a spine receiver coil for signal reception. In vivo
citrate levels are reported as a ratio of
citrate peak area to the sum of the areas of
choline and
creatine peak. MRS spectrum with good sensitivity and signal to noise (S/N) ratio was obtained in all 27 subjects. The
citrate to
creatine plus
choline ratio was 0.31+/-0.25 in patients with
cancer, 1.43+/-0.58 in BPH and 2.16+/-0.56 in controls. The difference in ratios between
cancer and BPH and
cancer and control was statistically significant ( p<0.01). Within the
cancer group, there was a statistically significant decline in levels with higher-grade
malignancy ( p<0.05). There were no complications of the procedure. There is a statistically significant decline in the ratio of
citrate to
choline plus
creatine in the regions of
cancer prostate when compared with BPH or normal control. The study demonstrates that MRS data can be reliably acquired using a spine coil receiver. MRS may also play a role in differentiating well-differentiated
tumors from the anaplastic variety.