Imaging Prostate Cancer Using Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Past, Present, and Future

Magnetic resonance imaging of prostate is currently widely used for diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer. First utilized in the early 1980s, MRI technology was rapidly recognized as a promising technique for characterizing pelvic and specifically prostatic anatomy. Further advancements, including the addition of diffusion weighted imaging and dynamic contrast enhanced imaging have continued to propel MRI into the forefront of prostate cancer care, notably with the development of the multiparametric MRI. This article reviews past advancements and performance in MRI in the screening and management of prostate cancer, as well as current thought on its place in contemporary urology. Future developments and avenues for advancement are described.