RADIOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE PROSTATE GLAND

Abstract

Background: In West Africa and Ghana, prostate arterial embolization (PAE) is a novel procedure. To ensure effective prostatic arterial embolization and selective intervention, a thorough understanding of prostate artery anatomy and its relationship to prostate size is required. Aim: The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomy of adult male prostate arterial supply and correlate them with prostate gland size and artery diameter on Computed Tomography of patients presenting to Euracare Advanced Diagnostic and Heart Centre. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted, at Euracare Advanced Diagnostics and Heart Centre. Patients who presented for Computed Tomography Angiography of the pelvis were included in the study. A total of 104 pelvic halves (52 males) were studied, and pertinent conclusions were reached. The diameter of the prostate artery and the volume of the prostate gland were measured. The Pearson Correlation coefficient was used to calculate the correlation between prostate artery diameter and prostate gland volume. The branching pattern of the prostate artery was classified using the de Assis et al (2015) classification, which serves as the foundation for most classifications. Result: According to the data, 37 (71.15 %) of the patients had enlarged prostate gland with a volume greater than 30ml. All of the patients aged 60 and above had an enlarged prostate gland and were mostly married. A higher proportion of patients with enlarged prostate (18, 94.74 %) had a history of prostate disease. In each pelvic half, one prostate artery was discovered. There were three types of prostate arterial branching. The majority of the pelvic halves (61, 58.7 %) had type 1, followed by type III and type II. In 50% of the pelvic halves, the origin was symmetrical type I. The mean prostate artery diameter was 1.28mm + 0.16 on the right and 1.26mm + 0.18 on the left, which was higher among those over 60. The average prostate gland volume was 42.58+14.17ml. The mean volume was higher in those over 60 (54.22+2.52 ml) compared to those under 60 (32.60+5.11ml), p =0.0000. The prostate gland volume and the diameter of the right (r=0.4771, p=0.0003) and left (r=0.5131, p=0.0001) arteries showed a significant positive correlation. Similar findings were made with those who had enlarged prostate glands with the right (r-0.3559, p=0.0306) and left (r = 0.4176, p=0.0101) prostate arteries.. Conclusion: The prostate arteries in the study population had type I, III, and II origins. The mean prostate artery diameter increases with increasing age and increasing prostate volume.