Schnall M D, Lenkinski R E, Pollack H M, Imai Y, Kressel H Y
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Radiology. 1989 Aug;172(2):570-4. doi: 10.1148/radiology.172.2.2748842.
An endorectal surface coil has been developed to obtain high-resolution magnetic resonance images of the prostate. The probe consists of a surface coil mounted on the inner surface of a balloon. The balloon is concave to ensure tight seating against the prostate. The coil has been used in 15 patients with biopsy-proved prostatic carcinoma and in two healthy volunteers. The axial images were obtained with a 12-16-cm field of view and a 3-mm section thickness. Compared with images obtained with a body coil, the surface coil images better demonstrate prostatic anatomy and pathologic conditions.
