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Available tests to detect clinically significant prostate cancer frequently lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Our study assessed the feasibility of combining a urinary biomarker-based risk score (SelectMDx ® ) and multiparametric MRI outcomes in order to identify patients with prostate cancer on prostate biopsy with increased accuracy and reliability. Samples of 74 men with suspicion of prostate cancer and available multiparametric MRI were analysed in a prospective cross-sectional study design. First-voided urine for determination of HOXC6 and DLX1 mRNA levels was collected after digital rectal examination and prior to MRI/ultrasound fusion-guided prostate biopsy. All multiparametric MRI images were centrally reviewed by two experienced radiologists blinded for urine test results and biopsy outcome. The PI-RADS v2 was used. SelectMDx ® score, PI-RADS and Gleason Sore were obtained. Associations between Gleason Score, PI-RADS scores and SelectMDx ® were assessed using ANOVA and t-test. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed and evaluated as area-under-the-curve of the receiver operating characteristic. Upon biopsy, 59.5% of patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer, whereby 40.6% had high-grade prostate cancer (GS ≥ 7a). SelectMDx ® scores were significantly higher for patients with positive biopsy findings (49.07 ± 25.99% vs. 22.00 ± 26.43%; p < 0.001). SelectMDx ® scores increased with higher PI-RADS scores. Combining SelectMDx ® , history of prior biopsy with benign histology and PI-RADS scores into a novel scoring system led to significant prostate cancer detection rates with tiered detection rate of 39%, 58%, 81% and 100% for Gleason grade group II, III, IV, and V, respectively. The area-under-the-curve for our novel sum score in receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.84. The synergistic combination of two non-invasive tests into a sum score with increased sensitivity may help avoiding unnecessary biopsies for initial prostate cancer diagnosis. For confirmation, further prospective studies with larger sample sizes and univariate and multivariate regression analyses and decision curve analyses are required.

ObjectivesTo assess the discriminatory power of lexicon terms used in PI-RADS version 2 to describe MRI features of prostate lesions.MethodsFour hundred fifty-four patients were included in this retrospective, institutional review board–approved study. Patients received multiparametric (mp) MRI and subsequent prostate biopsy including MRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy and 10-core systematic biopsy. PI-RADS lexicon terms describing lesion characteristics on mpMRI were assigned to lesions by experienced readers. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of each lexicon term were assessed using biopsy results as a reference standard.ResultsFrom a total of 501 lesions, clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was present in 175 lesions (34.9%). Terms related to findings of restricted diffusion showed PPVs of up to 52.0%/43.9% and NPV of up to 91.8%/89.7% (peripheral zone or PZ/transition zone or TZ). T2-weighted imaging (T2W)–related terms showed a wide range of predictive values. For PZ lesions, high PPVs were found for “markedly hypointense,” “lenticular,” “lobulated,” and “spiculated” (PPVs between 67.2 and 56.7%). For TZ lesions, high PPVs were found for “water-drop-shaped” and “erased charcoal sign” (78.6% and 61.0%). The terms “encapsulated,” “organized chaos,” and “linear” showed to be good predictors for benignity with distinctively low PPVs between 5.4 and 6.9%. Most T2WI-related terms showed improved predictive values for TZ lesions when combined with DWI-related findings.ConclusionsLexicon terms with high discriminatory power were identified (e.g., “markedly hypointense,” “water-drop-shaped,” “organized chaos”). DWI-related terms can be useful for excluding TZ cancer. Combining T2WI- with DWI findings in TZ lesions markedly improved predictive values.Key Points• Lexicon terms describing morphological and functional features of prostate lesions on MRI show a wide range of predictive values for prostate cancer.• Some T2-related terms have favorable PPVs, e.g., “water-drop-shaped” and “organized chaos” while others show less distinctive predictive values. DWI-related terms have noticeable negative predictive values in TZ lesions making DWI feature a useful tool for exclusion of TZ cancer.• Combining DWI- and T2-related lexicon terms for assessment of TZ lesions markedly improves PPVs. Most T2-related lexicon terms showed a significant decrease in PPV when combined with negative findings for “DW hyperintensity.”

BackgroundAlthough multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is recommended for primary risk stratification and follow-up in Active Surveillance (AS), it is not part of common AS inclusion criteria. The objective was to compare AS eligibility by systematic biopsy (SB) and combined MRI-targeted (MRI-TB) and SB within real-world data using current AS guidelines.MethodsA retrospective multicenter study was conducted by a German prostate cancer (PCa) working group representing six tertiary referral centers and one outpatient practice. Men with PCa and at least one MRI-visible lesion according to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) v2 were included. Twenty different AS inclusion criteria of international guidelines were applied to calculate AS eligibility using either a SB or a combined MRI-TB and SB. Reasons for AS exclusion were assessed.ResultsOf 1941 patients with PCa, per guideline, 583–1112 patients with PCa in both MRI-TB and SB were available for analysis. Using SB, a median of 22.1% (range 6.4–72.4%) were eligible for AS. Using the combined approach, a median of 15% (range 1.7–68.3%) were eligible for AS. Addition of MRI-TB led to a 32.1% reduction of suitable patients. Besides Gleason Score upgrading, the maximum number of positive cores were the most frequent exclusion criterion. Variability in MRI and biopsy protocols potentially limit the results.ConclusionsOnly a moderate number of patients with PCa can be monitored by AS to defer active treatment using current guidelines for inclusion in a real-world setting. By an additional MRI-TB, this number is markedly reduced. These results underline the need for a contemporary adjustment of AS inclusion criteria.

Iliac screws provide strong caudal anchorage for both long spinal fusions as well as short lumbopelvic fixations. However, anatomic based placement can be challenging, and complication rates are often underestimated. We analysed 47 iliac screws being placed in 24 patients. Using postoperative computed tomography (CT), iliac screw placement was analysed with reference to anatomic landmarks. Iliac narrowings were described with regard to their relevance for iliac screw placement. Moreover, we analyzed clinical records for clinical complications. The latter were classified as intraoperative, postoperative, and radiological. From starting points, described by distance to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), the average iliac screw length was 71.2±13.7 mm, and the diameter was as wide as 7.9±0.7 mm. Divergence was 30.7±12.6° (transverse plane) and caudal orientation was 34.2±13.0° (sagittal orientation). General pelvic dimensions correlated significantly with each other, and certainly with the length of implanted screws. Different adverse events and complications occurred. A total of 20% of patients were found with at least partial extracortical malpositioning. The main group of complications were postoperative with painful prominence in 20% of cases, wound infection in 8.9% and wound healing disorders in 6.7%. Further complications were radiological screw loosening (11.1%). No complications were detected in 33.3% of patients. Optimal iliac screw size relative to the individual anatomy in general is not achieved. In most cases compared to the literature, iliac screw dimensions could be both longer and thicker. Perfect anatomic placement can be challenging, which highlights the need for individual preoperative CT-based surgical planning to achieve a strong caudal anchorage in lumbopelvic fixations. In general, the diameter seems to be more important than the screw length.

The purpose of this study is to compare diagnostic performance of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version (v) 2.1 and 2.0 for detection of Gleason Score (GS) ≥ 7 prostate cancer on MRI. Three experienced radiologists provided PI-RADS v2.0 scores and at least 12 months later v2.1 scores on lesions in 333 prostate MRI examinations acquired between 2012 and 2015. Diagnostic performance was assessed retrospectively by using MRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy and 10-core systematic biopsy as the reference. From a total of 359 lesions, GS ≥ 7 tumor was present in 135 lesions (37.60%). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) revealed slightly lower values for peripheral zone (PZ) and transition zone (TZ) scoring in v2.1, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. A significant number of score 2 lesions in the TZ were downgraded to score 1 in v2.1 showing 0% GS ≥ 7 tumor (0/11). The newly introduced diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) upgrading rule in v2.1 was applied in 6 lesions from a total of 143 TZ lesions (4.2%). In summary, PI-RADS v2.1 showed no statistically significant differences in overall diagnostic performance of TZ and PZ scoring compared to v2.0. Downgraded BPH nodules showed favorable cancer frequencies. The new DWI upgrading rule for TZ lesions was applied in only few cases.

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect the prostate index lesion before targeted biopsy. However, the number of biopsy cores that should be obtained from the index lesion is unclear. The aim of this study is to analyze how many MRI-targeted biopsy cores are needed to establish the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion and to build a prediction model.MethodsWe retrospectively included 451 patients who underwent 10-core systematic prostate biopsy and MRI-targeted biopsy with sampling of at least three cores from the index lesion. A total of 1587 biopsy cores were analyzed. The core sampling sequence was recorded, and the first biopsy core detecting the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis was identified. In a subgroup of 261 patients in whom exactly three MRI-targeted biopsy cores were obtained from the index lesion, we generated a prediction model. A nonparametric Bayes classifier was trained using the PI-RADS score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density, lesion size, zone, and location as covariates.ResultsThe most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion was detected by the first biopsy core in 331 cases (73%), by the second in 66 cases (15%), and by the third in 39 cases (9%), by the fourth in 13 cases (3%), and by the fifth in two cases (<1%). The Bayes classifier correctly predicted which biopsy core yielded the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis in 79% of the subjects. PI-RADS score, PSA density, lesion size, zone, and location did not independently influence the prediction model.ConclusionThe most relevant histopathologic diagnosis of the index lesion was made on the basis of three MRI-targeted biopsy cores in 97% of patients. Our classifier can help in predicting the first MRI-targeted biopsy core revealing the most relevant histopathologic diagnosis; however, at least three MRI-targeted biopsy cores should be obtained regardless of the preinterventionally assessed covariates.

IntroductionSince the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, COVID-19 has changed the medical landscape. International recommendations for localized prostate cancer (PCa) include deferred treatment and adjusted therapeutic routines.Materials and methodsTo longitudinally evaluate changes in PCa treatment strategies in urological and radiotherapy departments in Germany, a link to a survey was sent to 134 institutions covering two representative baseline weeks prior to the pandemic and 13 weeks from March 2020 to February 2021. The questionnaire captured the numbers of radical prostatectomies, prostate biopsies and case numbers for conventional and hypofractionation radiotherapy. The results were evaluated using descriptive analyses.ResultsA total of 35% of the questionnaires were completed. PCa therapy increased by 6% in 2020 compared to 2019. At baseline, a total of 69 radiotherapy series and 164 radical prostatectomies (RPs) were documented. The decrease to 60% during the first wave of COVID-19 particularly affected low-risk PCa. The recovery throughout the summer months was followed by a renewed reduction to 58% at the end of 2020. After a gradual decline to 61% until July 2020, the number of prostate biopsies remained stable (89% to 98%) during the second wave. The use of RP fluctuated after an initial decrease without apparent prioritization of risk groups. Conventional fractionation was used in 66% of patients, followed by moderate hypofractionation (30%) and ultrahypofractionation (4%). One limitation was a potential selection bias of the selected weeks and the low response rate.ConclusionWhile the diagnosis and therapy of PCa were affected in both waves of the pandemic, the interim increase between the peaks led to a higher total number of patients in 2020 than in 2019. Recommendations regarding prioritization and fractionation routines were implemented heterogeneously, leaving unexplored potential for future pandemic challenges.