MR Imaging of Hemospermia with an Endorectal Surface Coil: Comparison with Transrectal Ultrasonography

Won, Je Hwan; Kim, Myeong Jin; Yoo, Hyung Sik; Lee, Jong Tae; Lee, Moo San

Abstract

PURPOSE
To describe MR findngs of the seminal tract using endorectal surface coil(ECMR) in patients with hemospermia and to compare them with transrectal ultrasonography(TRU TR US).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-fourpatients with hemospermia underwent MR imaging using a 1. 5T unit. T2-weighted fast spin echo axial, sagittal and coronal images, and T1-weighted spin echo axial images were obtained using on endorectal surface coil. MR finding sin 17 patients were compared with TRUS performed by urologist.
RESULTS
Twenty-two patients(92%) demonstrated morphological abnormalities in the prostate and the seminal tract. On ECMR, 16 hemorrhagic foci were seen in 13patients. Prostatic cysts were seen in 14 patients(8 m llerian and 6 wolffian). These cysts showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. On T1-weighted images, m llerian duct cysts showed low signal intensity and wolffian duct cysts showed high signal intensity. On ECMR, calculi were seen in 18 patients. Of 17 cases who had both ECMR and TRUS, prostatic cysts were seen in 11 on ECMR and 5 cases on TRUS (p<0.05). No hemorrhage in theseminal tract was detected on TRUS. In is cases, calculi were clearly defined on ECMR, and in 11 cases on TRUS(p<0.1).
CONCLUSIONS
ECMR demonstrated various lesions in patients with hemospermia and was superior to TRUS inthe localization of hemorrhage and detection of prostatic cysts and calculi.