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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 12/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Urogenital

The longitudinal effect of ejaculation on seminal vesicle fluid volume and whole-prostate ADC as measured on prostate MRI

Authors: Tristan Barrett, James Tanner, Andrew B. Gill, Rhys A. Slough, James Wason, Ferdia A. Gallagher

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 12/2017

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Abstract

Objective

To prospectively investigate the longitudinal effect of ejaculatory abstinence on MRI-measured seminal vesicle (SV) volume and whole-prostate ADC over consecutive days.

Methods

15 healthy male volunteers (mean 35.9 years, range 27–53) underwent 3-T MRI at baseline and 1, 2 and 3 days post-ejaculation. Prostate and SV volumes were derived by volume segmentation and whole-gland apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated. A mixed-effects linear regression compared ADC values and prostate/seminal vesicle volumes in each volunteer between studies in a pairwise manner.

Results

All subjects completed the four MRIs. Mean prostate volume was 22.45 cm3 (range 13.04–31.21 cm3), with no change between the four studies (p = 0.89–0.99). 13/15 subjects showed SV volume reduction from baseline to day 1, with group-mean decreasing from 6.45 to 4.80 cm3 (−25.6%, p < 0.001), and a significant reduction from baseline to day 2 (−18.1%, p = 0.002). There was a significant volume increase from both day 1 (+21.3%, p = 0.006) and day 2 (+10.2%, p = 0.022) to day 3 post-ejaculation. There was a significant reduction in ADC from 1.105 at baseline to 1.056 × 10−3 mm2/s at day 1 (mean −4.3%, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

The longitudinal effect of ejaculation on SV volume was demonstrated. Significant reductions in SV volume and whole-gland ADC were observed post-ejaculation, supporting a 3-day period of abstinence before prostate MRI.

Key Points

• Seminal vesicle volume significantly reduced 24 h post-ejaculation remaining reduced at day 2
• Seminal vesicle fluid volume significantly increased from day 1 to day 3 post-ejaculation
• There was a significant reduction in whole-gland prostate ADC values day 1 post-ejaculation
• 3-day abstinence from ejaculation is required to ensure maximal seminal vesicle distension
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The longitudinal effect of ejaculation on seminal vesicle fluid volume and whole-prostate ADC as measured on prostate MRI
Authors
Tristan Barrett
James Tanner
Andrew B. Gill
Rhys A. Slough
James Wason
Ferdia A. Gallagher
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 12/2017
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4905-x

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