  Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and
the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in more developed countries. The
prognosis of PCa is excellent if detected at an early stage, making early
screening crucial for detection and treatment. In recent years, a new form of
diffusion magnetic resonance imaging called correlated diffusion imaging (CDI)
was introduced, and preliminary results show promise as a screening tool for
PCa. In the largest study of its kind, we investigate the relationship between
PCa presence and a new variant of CDI we term synthetic correlated diffusion
imaging (CDI$^s$), as well as its performance for PCa delineation compared to
current standard MRI techniques (T2-weighted (T2w) imaging, diffusion-weighted
imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging) across a cohort of
200 patient cases. Statistical analyses reveal that hyperintensity in CDI$^s$
is a strong indicator of PCa presence and achieves strong delineation of
clinically significant cancerous tissue compared to T2w, DWI, and DCE. These
results suggest that CDI$^s$ hyperintensity may be a powerful biomarker for the
presence of PCa, and may have a clinical impact as a diagnostic aid for
improving PCa screening.
