Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Study of Male Pelvic Perfusion at 3T: Comparison in Cardiac and non-Cardiac patients

P. Hou, E. J. De, L. A. Kramer, O. L. Westney Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, University of Texas, Houston, TX, United States, Urology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States, Urology, University of Texas, Houston, TX, United States Introduction Lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction may relate to pelvic ischemia. Can pelvic ischemia be demonstrated by a series MRI method such as MR angiography, cardiac stroke value, and specifically dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI perfusion? The goal of this primary study was to establish a set of protocols for MRI pelvic perfusion study at 3T, including its feasibility. These protocols were applied to the pelvis of male patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) and those without (controls) and correlated with pelvic symptoms (erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms). The hypothesis asserted that perfusion values for these two groups of patients would be different.