Abstract: This study explored the value of multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCA) and the stratified evaluation of disease risk. 42 patients with confirmed PCA patients diagnosed by pathological examination (PCA group) and 45 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (control group) were selected as subjects. All patients were examined by mpMRI with 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusion coefficient (D), diffusion distribution index (DDC), maximum enhancement degree (SImax), fastest enhancement rate (Rmax), time to peak (Tmax), average kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (Ka), radial kurtosis (Kr) and average diffusion coefficient (MD) were compared between the two groups. Taking the pathological results as the gold standard, the clinical value of mpMRI parameters in the diagnosis of PCA was calculated. The measured values of SImax, Rmax, MK, Ka and Kr in the PCA group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the values of ADC, D, DDC, Tmax and MD were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). According to the degree of risk, the PCA patients were divided into high risk group (n=19) and middle and low risk group (n=23). In high risk group the measured values of SImax, Rmax, MK, Ka and Kr were significantly higher than those in middle and low risk group, while the values of ADC, D, DDC, Tmax and MD in high risk group were significantly lower than those in middle and low risk group (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of mpMRI parameter combined diagnosis for PCA was 1, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 100%. There are differences in mpMRI parameters between patients with PCA and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and there are also differences in mpMRI parameters in patients with PCA with different disease risk stratification. The combination of mpMRI parameters in the diagnosis of PCA and benign prostatic hyperplasia has a high clinical value.

Key words: multiparametric magnetic resonance, diagnosis, prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia