Identification of high-risk tumor characteristics in patients with localized prostate cancer using conventional combined with diffusion-weighted MRI imaging parameters

The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of conventional imaging combined with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying high-risk tumor characteristics in patients with localized prostate cancer. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 194 patients who underwent surgery for localized prostate cancer. Patients were categorized into low-risk and high-risk groups based on clinical criteria. Imaging data were obtained using a MRI system, and various imaging parameters were analyzed, including T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) signal intensities, diffusion-weighted MRI parameters, and their correlations with clinical characteristics. Statistical methods such as logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were employed to assess the diagnostic performance of the imaging parameters and to construct joint prediction models. A verification set prediction model was established and compared. The comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between the low and high-risk groups revealed significant differences in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, Tumor Size and prostate volume (PV). Standard imaging parameters, T1WI and T2WI signal intensities, exhibited significant differences between the low and high-risk groups. Additionally, diffusion-weighted MRI parameters, including signal intensities at different b values, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), K