Shape Analysis of Peripheral Zone Observations on Prostate DWI: Correlation to Histopathology Outcomes After Radical Prostatectomy

The objective of our study was to subjectively and quantitatively assess shape features of peripheral zone (PZ) tumors at DWI compared with pathologic outcomes. During the study period, 241 consecutive men with PZ dominant prostate tumors underwent 3-T MRI including DWI before undergoing radical prostatectomy. DW images of these patients were retrospectively assessed by two blinded radiologists. The reviewers assigned Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) shape categories (round or oval, crescentic [i.e., conforming to PZ], linear or wedge-shaped) and segmented tumors for quantitative shape analysis. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Comparisons were performed with Gleason score (GS) and pathologic stage. Consensus review results were as follows: 63.9% (154/241) of tumors were round or oval; 22.8% (55/241), crescentic; and 13.3% (32/241), linear or wedge-shaped. Agreement for shape assessment was moderate (κ = 0.41). Round or oval tumors were higher grade (GS 6 = 1.3%, GS 7 = 78.0%, GS ≥ 8 = 20.7%) than crescentic tumors (GS 6 = 9.1%, GS 7 = 74.6%, GS ≥ 8 = 16.3%) and linear or wedge-shaped tumors (GS 6 = 6.3%, GS 7 = 78.1%, GS ≥ 8 = 15.6%) ( = 0.011). In addition, round or oval tumors had higher rates of extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) (EPE and SVI: 70.1% and 26.0%) than crescentic tumors (67.3% and 9.1%; = 0.003) and linear or wedge-shaped tumors (40.6% and 9.4%; = 0.008). Quantitatively, the shape features termed "circularity" and "roundness" were associated with EPE ( < 0.001 and = 0.003), SVI ( < 0.001 and = 0.029), and increasing GS ( = 0.009 and = 0.021), but there was overlap between groups. In this study, approximately 10% of resected PZ tumors were linear or wedge-shaped on DWI. PZ tumors that were judged subjectively and evaluated quantitatively to be round or oval were associated with increased prostate cancer aggressiveness.