The role of T1 hyperintensity in differentiating granulomatous prostatitis from prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis of 31 lesions

Abstract

PURPOSE

To investigate the multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) characteristics of granulomatous prostatitis (GP) and share our experience with 31 pathologically confirmed GP lesions in 19 patients.

METHODS

This two-center retrospective study reviewed the pathological and imaging data of 856 patients who underwent prostate biopsy between January 2012 and April 2024. Of these, 19 patients with available prebiopsy mpMRI and a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of GP were included. Additionally, 280 biopsy-naïve patients diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) were included as a control group for comparative analysis. Prebiopsy mpMR images of patients with GP were assessed by consensus between two of three radiologists (M.V., B.C., S.D.), evaluating lesion location, size, shape, multifocality, extraprostatic extension (EPE), signal characteristics on T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) value, enhancement patterns, and prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 30.0.

RESULTS

In 19 patients, 31 pathologically confirmed GP lesions were identified on prebiopsy mpMRI. Twenty-six lesions were located in the peripheral zone and five in the transitional zone. Multifocal involvement was observed in nine patients (47.3%). Thirty of 31 lesions were hypointense on T2-WI, and seven showed capsular bulging and/or irregularity, suggesting EPE. DWI revealed markedly impeded diffusion in all lesions. The median ADCmean value was 825 × 10-3 mm2/s (IQR: 230 × 10-3 mm2/s). On dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences, 25 lesions showed early enhancement, five showed prolonged enhancement, and one showed prolonged ring enhancement. Based on mpMRI findings, 17 lesions were assigned a PI-RADS score of 4, and 13 lesions were assigned a PI-RADS score of 5. Notably, 22 lesions (71%) in 14 patients with GP (73.7%) exhibited hyperintensity on T1-WI despite no prior prostate biopsy history. Statistical analysis comparing the GP and csPCa groups revealed that hyperintensity on T1-WI was significantly more frequent in GP, both on a per-patient basis (73.7% vs. 3.2%) and a per-lesion basis (71.0% vs. 3.1%) (P < 0.0001 for both).

CONCLUSION

GP shares overlapping imaging features with prostate cancer on mpMRI. However, hyperintensity on T1-WI may serve as a distinguishing feature, potentially reducing unnecessary prostate interventions. Radiologists should consider GP in PI-RADS ≥4 lesions exhibiting T1-WI hyperintensity. Furthermore, given the high incidence of GP following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, a thorough history of BCG treatment should be obtained.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

GP is recognized for its tendency to mimic PCa on mpMRI, a finding corroborated by this study. However, T1-WI hyperintensity emerged as a promising distinguishing feature for GP. Incorporating this marker into mpMRI interpretation criteria may help reduce unnecessary prostate interventions and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, granulomatous prostatitis, magnetic resonance imaging, prostate cancer, T1-weighted imaging