Neuroanatomical Evaluation of Periprostatic Nerve in Patients Submitted to Nerve-Sparing Prostatectomy at 3T: Feasibility Study & Preliminary Experience

Valeria Panebianco¹, Sabina Prato², Daniele Lisi¹, Valeria Buonocore¹, Tommaso Biondi¹, Roberto Passariello¹

In patients submitted to a nerve-sparing prostatectomy is important the depiction of the neuroanatomical distribution and relationship of periprostatic nerve with capsular profile using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and tracing the spatial orientation of the neuro component depending of the diffusion process. Fibertracking with endorectal coil of the periprostatic nerve is a feasible application, obtaining a precise neuroanatomical evaluation of the periprostatic nerve in terms of: distance from nerve fiber to prostate capsular profile, distance from nerve fiber to the lesion and integrity and course of the nerve on each part of the prostate.