Table 2.

Prostate mpMRI acquisition protocol updates

Protocol updates
The minimum and optimal field strengths at which prostate mpMRI should be conducted is 1.5 T and 3 T, respectively. Endorectal coils and rectal catheters for gas voiding do not need to be used routinely. Anti‐peristaltic agents should be incorporated in routine practice (unless contra‐indicated). Axial imaging should be orientated axial to the patient and not to the position of the prostate gland.
T2 sequences should be acquired in all three planes and should be obtained as three separate acquisitions (axial, coronal and sagittal). Single 3D T2 imaging sequence was not adequate to replace the three separate 2D acquisitions. T2 sequences with a large field‐of‐view to cover abdominal nodes are not necessary. A maximum voxel size in‐plane resolution of T2 sequences should be 0.7 mm or better.
The minimum high‐b value for diffusion‐weighted sequences should be b = 1 400 s/mm2 at 1.5 T and b = 2 000 s/mm2 at 3 T. The maximum voxel size in‐plane resolution of DWI should as far as possible ≤2 mm.
Quantitative pharmacokinetic DCE‐MRI modelling or curve shape parametric evaluations are not necessary. DCE analysis should be performed with visual (qualitative) anatomical evaluation in the early arterial enhancement images of the prostate. The temporal resolution of DCE‐MRI sequences can be up to 15 s for a high spatial resolution and anatomical interpretation of DCE images.