Accuracy of real-time magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion image-guided transperineal target biopsy with needle tracking with a mechanical position-encoded stepper in detecting significant prostate cancer in biopsy-naïve men

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of real-time elastic fusion image-guided transperineal prostate biopsy with needle tracking involving a mechanical position-encoded stepper in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer for biopsy-naïve men.

Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with serum prostate-specific antigen levels of 4.0-20 ng/mL and suspicious of prostate cancer on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. They underwent targeted biopsies for cancer-suspicious lesions and 12-core systematic biopsies. Pathological findings from biopsy cores and whole-mount specimens (for those who underwent radical prostatectomy) were analyzed.

Results: A total of 250 patients were included, in whom targeted and systematic biopsies detected significant cancers in 55% and 25%, respectively (P < 0.001). The targeted biopsy cores (n = 527) showed significantly greater biopsy-proven significant cancer detection rates (P < 0.001), cancer core length (P < 0.0001), cancer core percentage (P < 0.001) and Gleason scores (P < 0.001) than did the systematic biopsies. The significant cancer detection rate for targeted lesions (those with Prostate Imaging and Reporting and Data System classification scores of 5) was 80%. Biopsy-proven significant cancer detection rates for targeted lesions ≤10 mm and >10 mm were similar for Prostate Imaging and Reporting and Data System scores of 4 (P = 0.707) and 5 (P = 0.386). In whole-mount specimens (n = 30), locations for 95% of significant cancers were diagnosed preoperatively. Targeted biopsies alone diagnosed 79% of significant cancers.

Conclusions: Although targeted biopsies are superior to systematic biopsies in detecting significant cancers, systematic biopsies maintain an important role in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in biopsy-naïve men.

Keywords: cancer detection; fusion image-guided biopsy; magnetic resonance imaging; prostate cancer; significant cancer.