Dual-energy computed tomography in supporting prostatic artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the value of 256-slice dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in supporting prostatic artery embolization (PAE) under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: The study was conducted on 88 patients who underwent PAE to treat BPH from January 2022 to November 2023. Of these, 38 patients who had PAE without DECT were placed in group 1, while the other 50 patients with pre-interventional DECT were assigned to group 2. The results of DECT imaging of the prostate artery (PA) were compared with the results of DSA imaging. Test for statistically significant differences between the variables of the two research groups using the T - student test and Mann-Whitney test algorithms with p < 0.05 corresponding to a 95% confidence interval. The data were analyzed according to medical statistical methods using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: DECT can detect the PA origin in 96.1% of cases, identify atherosclerosis at the root of the artery with a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 89.5%, and present anastomosis with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 72.2%. There is no statistically significant difference in PA diameter on DECT compared to DSA with 95% confidence. Group 2 used DECT for 3D rendering of the PA before PAE had procedure time reduced by 25.8%, fluoroscopy time reduced by 23.2%, dose-area product (DAP) reduced by 25.6%, contrast medium volume reduced by 33.1% compared to group 1 not using DECT, statistically significant with 95% confidence. Conclusion: DECT is a valuable method for planning before PAE to treat BPH. 3D rendering DECT of PA provides anatomical information that minimizes procedure time, fluoroscopy time, dose-area product, and contrast medium volume.