MRI with DTI tractography to road-map prostatic neurovascular bundles
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI tractography) in the prostate: Road-mapping the neurovascular bundle prior to radical prostatectomy.
IRAS ID
157344
Contact name
Andrea Rockall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Compliance Office, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Research summary
During prostate cancer surgery, nerve damage can lead to erectile problems and urinary incontinence. Clinical findings and MRI are currently used to predict whether nerve damage is likely but the standard techniques are not very accurate.
We will set-up a relatively new MRI technique (called DTI) which has already been reported in small studies to show the nerves around the prostate gland; we will then use DTI on consenting patients undergoing standard of care surgery for prostate cancer in order to estimate whether the nerves are (1) close to the prostate cancer and (2) are likely to be damaged during surgery. We will compare the DTI findings with surgical and pathology findings to see if the DTI scan was correct. Patient symptoms following surgery will be recorded.
If DTI can show the ‘roadmap’ of the nerves, then predicting the likelihood of nerve damage during surgery may be improved. This information could in turn help surgeons and patients make a choice about the preferred treatment option.
Our multidisciplinary team includes a neurologist with expertise tracking nerves in the brain (for advice on the DTI technique), MRI physicist, urological surgeons, histopathologists and radiologists with a special interest in prostate cancer.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1727
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion