ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>We evaluated the accuracy of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the staging of prostate cancer.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>We retrospectively reviewed 32 patients who underwent endorectal MR prostate prior to radical prostatectomy. The tumour stage based on MR imaging was compared with the pathologic stage. The sensitivity and specificity of endorectal MR prostate in the evaluation of extracapsular extension (ECE) of the tumour were then determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MR correctly diagnosed 17 cases of organ-confined prostate carcinoma and 2 cases of locally advanced disease. In the evaluation of ECE, endorectal MR achieved a high specificity of 94.4%, low sensitivity of 14.3% and moderate accuracy of 59.4%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endorectal MR prostate has high specificity for the detection of ECE. It is useful in the local staging of prostate cancer in patients with intermediate risk as this helps to ensure that few patients will be deprived of potentially curative surgery.</p>