T1 and T2 MR fingerprinting measurements of prostate cancer and prostatitis correlate with deep learning-derived estimates of epithelium, lumen, and stromal composition on corresponding whole mount histopathology

Objectives To explore the associations between T1 and T2 magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) measurements and corresponding tissue compartment ratios (TCRs) on whole mount histopathology of prostate cancer (PCa) and prostatitis. Materials and methods A retrospective, IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant cohort consisting of 14 PCa patients who underwent 3 T multiparametric MRI along with T1 and T2 MRF maps prior to radical prostatectomy was used. Correspondences between whole mount specimens and MRI and MRF were manually established. Prostatitis, PCa, and normal peripheral zone (PZ) regions of interest (ROIs) on pathology were segmented for TCRs of epithelium, lumen, and stroma using two U-net deep learning models. Corresponding ROIs were mapped to T2-weighted MRI (T2w), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and T1 and T2 MRF maps. Their correlations with TCRs were computed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (R). Statistically significant differences in means were assessed using one-way ANOVA. Results Statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in means of TCRs and T1 and T2 MRF were observed between PCa, prostatitis, and normal PZ. A negative correlation was observed between T1 and T2 MRF and epithelium (R = - 0.38, - 0.44,p < 0.05) of PCa. T1 MRF was correlated in opposite directions with stroma of PCa and prostatitis (R = 0.35, - 0.44,p < 0.05). T2 MRF was positively correlated with lumen of PCa and prostatitis (R = 0.57, 0.46,p < 0.01). Mean T2 MRF showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between PCa and prostatitis across both transition zone (TZ) and PZ, while mean T1 MRF was significant (p = 0.02) in TZ. Conclusion Significant associations between MRF (T1 in the TZ and T2 in the PZ) and tissue compartments on corresponding histopathology were observed.

Automated summary

Significant differences were observed in TCRs and T1 and T2 MRF between PCa, prostatitis, and normal PZ. T1 and T2 MRF showed correlations with epithelium and stroma of PCa, with T1 MRF in opposite directions between PCa and prostatitis. T2 MRF was positively correlated with lumen of PCa and prostatitis.