Prostate Biopsy

Number: 0698

Table Of Contents

Policy
Applicable CPT / HCPCS / ICD-10 Codes
Background
References

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Policy

Scope of Policy

This Clinical Policy Bulletin addresses prostate biopsy.

1. Medical Necessity

   1. Aetna considers a transperineal stereotactic template-guided saturation prostate biopsy medically necessary for the following indications: 

      • Men with 2 prior negative prostate biopsies and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) that is persistently rising; or
      • Men with histologic findings of atypia or high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) on prior biopsy.

      Aetna considers prostate saturation biopsy experimental and investigational for all other indications (e.g., surveillance or watchful waiting of persons with a positive prostate biopsy) because there is insufficient evidence on the clinical utility of this procedure for indications other than the ones listed above in the peer-reviewed medical literature.

   2. Aetna considers transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy medically necessary for diagnosis, follow-up, and active surveillance of prostate cancer when criteria are met:

      1. For diagnosis if serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and/or digital rectal examination (DRE) is abnormal; or
      2. For follow-up or active surveillance when all of the following criteria are met:
         
         
         1. Life expectancy of greater than 5 years; and
         2. Repeat DRE is abnormal and/or rising PSA and/or suspicious MRI; and
         3. Repeat biopsy is performed in support of changes in treatment or in support of definitive treatment.

   3. Aetna considers transperineal or transrectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided prostate biopsy (including the in-bore (direct) approach, and fusion imaging of multi-parametric MRI with TRUS (MRI-TRUS; e.g., the UroNav fusion biopsy system) medically necessary for diagnosis, follow-up, and active surveillance of prostate cancer when criteria are met:

      1. For diagnosis when both of the following criteria are met:

         1. Prior prostate biopsy; and
         2. Repeat DRE is abnormal and/or rising PSA;

      2. For follow-up and active surveillance when all of the following criteria are met:

         1. Life expectancy of greater than 5 years; and
         2. Repeat DRE is abnormal and/or rising PSA and/or suspicious MRI; and
         3. Repeat biopsy is performed in support of changes in treatment or in support of definitive treatment.

2. Experimental and Investigational

   Aetna considers the following procedures experimental and investigational because the effectiveness of these approaches has not been established:

   1. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-targeted prostate biopsy
   2. Micro-ultrasound guided prostate biopsy (e,g., Prostate Risk Identification for Micro-Ultrasound (PRI-MUS)) for detection of prostate cancer 
   3. Spectral analysis of prostate tissue by fluorescence spectroscopy
   4. Ultrasound superb microvascular imaging for guiding targeted biopsy of the prostate.

3. Policy Limitations and Exclusions 

   The know error® DNA Specimen Provenance Assay, a forensic assay to confirm that a surgical specimen belongs to the patient evaluated for treatment, is considered to be part of the laboratory's quality control for specimens.  Use of this test is considered an integral part of the biopsy and is not separately reimbursed. 

4. Related Policies

   • CPB 0001 - Transrectal Ultrasound
   • CPB 0168 - Tumor Scintigraphy
   • CPB 0521 - Prostate Cancer Screening

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Table:

CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD-10 Codes

Code	Code Description
CPT codes covered if selection criteria are met:
45342	Sigmoidoscopy, flexible; with transendoscopic ultrasound guided intramural or transmural fine needle aspiration/biopsy(s)
55706	Biopsies, prostate, needle, transperineal, stereotactic template guided saturation sampling, including imaging guidance
72195 - 72197	Magnetic resonance (e.g. proton) imaging, pelvis
CPT codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB:
Ultrasound superb microvascular imaging, Micro-ultrasound guided prostate biopsy, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-targeted prostate biopsy – no specific code
0443T	Real-time spectral analysis of prostate tissue by fluorescence spectroscopy, including imaging guidance
Other CPT codes related to the CPB:
55700	Biopsy, prostate; needle or punch, single or multiple, any approach
84152	Prostate specific antigen (PSA); complexed (direct measurement)
84153	total
84154	free
HCPCS codes covered if selection criteria are met:
G0416	Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinations, for prostate needle biopsy, any method
Other HCPCS codes related to the CPB:
G0102	Prostate cancer screening; digital rectal examination
G0103	Prostate cancer screening; prostate specific antigen test (PSA)
ICD-10 codes covered if selection criteria are met:
C61	Malignant neoplasm of prostate
D07.5	Carcinoma in situ of prostate [PIN III]
N42.30 - N42.39	Dysplasia of prostate [PIN I or II]
ICD-10 codes not covered if selection criteria are met:
Z12.5	Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of prostate

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Background

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer.  It accounts for 33 % of all male cancers and 10 % of male cancer-related deaths.  The disease is histologically evident in as many as 34 % of men during their fifth decade of life and in up to 70 % of men aged 80 years old and older.  

Transperineal template-guided stereotactic saturation prostate biopsy, typically using 30 to 80 cores, is being proposed as a method to detect prostate cancer in high-risk men with multiple negative extended prostate biopsies, including men with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that is persistently rising, men with histologic evidence of atypia on prior prostate biopsy, or men with histologic findings of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) on prior biopsy. 

Digital rectal exam (DRE) and PSA tests detect prostate abnormalities, but they can not determine whether these abnormalities are cancer or benign; only a biopsy can confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer risk factors include persistent elevated PSA, atypia, or high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) on prior biopsy. 

A core needle biopsy of the prostate under transrectal ultrasound guidance is the main method used to diagnose prostate cancer.  A narrow needle is placed through the wall of the rectum into the prostate gland.  The needle removes a cylinder of tissue, usually about 1/2-inch long and 1/16-inch across.  A pathologist assigns a Gleason primary and secondary grade to the biopsy specimen.  Usually 6 to 18 cores are removed to get a good sample and tell how much of the gland (if any) is affected by cancer; however, 10 to 12 tissue cores are considered the standard of care (Wilson and Crawford, 2004). 

It has been reported that 38 % of prostate cancers are missed by prostate biopsy (Patel et al, 2004).  There is some evidence that the sensitivity of needle biopsy could improve by 30 % to 35 % by increasing the number of biopsy cores beyond 6 (e.g., 14 to 45 cores) (Stewart et al, 2001).  Some investigators have proposed even more extensive sampling (30 to 80 cores).  This improvement in sensitivity, however, has been at the cost of doubling the rate of cancer detection of less than 0.5 cm3 in volume identified.  The extent to which an increase in detection rate would reduce morbidity and mortality from prostate cancer or increase the percentage of men treated unnecessarily is unknown.  

Epstein et al (2005) reported the results of prostate saturation biopsy on 103 men who were predicted to have insignificant cancer in their radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen.  All had limited cancer on routine needle biopsy (no core with more than 50 % involvement; Gleason score less than 7, and fewer than 3 cores involved) with a serum PSA density of 0.15 or less.  Insignificant tumor at RP was considered organ-confined tumor, no Gleason pattern 4 or 5, and a tumor volume of less than 0.5 cm3.  Saturation biopsy (average 44 cores) versus an alternate biopsy saturation protocol with half the number of cores was performed on RP specimens.  Of the tumors examined, 97 % were organ confined.  The RP Gleason score was less than 7 in 84 % of the cases.  The RP tumor volume was 0.01 to 2.39 cm3 (median 0.14).  Overall, 71 % of cancers were insignificant; however, 29 % had been incorrectly classified before surgery using a standard biopsy protocol.  The authors calculated that with the saturation biopsy method, the false-positive rate for significant disease was 11.5 %.  Similarly, the false-negative rate for insignificant tumors was 11.5 % (sensitivity 71.9 % and specificity 95.8 %).  Using the alternate biopsy protocol, with half the number of cores, the false-positive rate was 8 % and the false-negative rate was 11.4 % (sensitivity 71.9 % and specificity 97.1 %).  The authors stated that in comparison, using a 12-core biopsy protocol, a false-negative rate of 11.7 % would have been achieved with a false-positive rate of 41.9 %, and lowering the false-positive rate to 28.65 % increased the false-negative rate to 16.0 %. 

A systematic review of the diagnostic value of systematic prostate biopsy methods in the investigation for prostate cancer, prepared by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (2005) found that "[s]chemes with 18 and more cores of the 5-region pattern showed the highest cancer yield (RPR 1.48; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.32 to 1.66).  However, the difference in the cancer yield of this scheme to the yield of the 12-core scheme from pattern mid-lobar peripheral zone + lateral peripheral zone (RPR 1.31; 95 % CI: 1.25 to 1.37) and the 10-core scheme of the 5-region pattern (RPR 1.38; 95 % CI: 1.08 to 1.76) was not statistically significant."  The assessment concluded that "[i]t still has to be demonstrated that extended biopsy schemes with a higher cancer yield do lead to a survival benefit due to early cancer detection."

An update to this systematic evidence review on the diagnostic value of biopsy methods in the investigation of prostate cancer reached similar conclusions. Eichler et al (2006) searched 13 electronic databases, screened relevant urological journals and the reference lists of included studies, and contacted experts.  These researchers included studies that compared different systematic prostate biopsy methods using sequential sampling or a randomized design in men scheduled for biopsy due to suspected prostate cancer.  They pooled data using a random effects model when appropriate; and analyzed 87 studies with a total of 20,698 patients.  These investigators pooled data from 68 studies comparing a total of 94 extended schemes with the standard sextant scheme.  An increasing number of cores were significantly associated with the cancer yield.  Laterally directed cores increased the yield significantly (p = 0.003), whereas centrally directed cores did not.  Schemes with 12 cores that took additional laterally directed cores detected 31 % more cancers (95 % CI: 25 to 37) than the sextant scheme.  Schemes with 18 to 24 cores did not detect significantly more cancers.  Adverse events for schemes up to 12 cores were similar to those for the sextant pattern.  Adverse event reporting was poor for schemes with 18 to 24 cores.  The authors concluded that prostate biopsy schemes consisting of 12 cores that add laterally directed cores to the standard sextant scheme strike the balance between the cancer detection rate and adverse events.  Taking more than 12 cores added no significant benefit.

Prostate saturation biopsy may provide increased accuracy in the predictability of prostate tumor volume and grade to select suitable candidates for watchful waiting therapy; however, it is not clear whether early detection and subsequent earlier treatment leads to any change in the natural history and outcome of individuals with prostate cancer.  Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the clinical utility of prostate saturation biopsy.

Jones et al (2006) reported on the results of a sequential cohort study comparing office-based saturation prostate biopsy to traditional 10-core sampling as an initial biopsy.  Based on improved cancer detection of office-based saturation prostate biopsy repeat biopsy, the authors adopted the technique as an initial biopsy strategy to improve cancer detection.  Two surgeons performed 24-core saturation prostate biopsies in 139 patients undergoing initial biopsy under peri-prostatic local anesthesia.  Indication for biopsy was an increased PSA of 2.5 ng/dl or greater in all patients.  Results were compared to those of 87 patients who had previously undergone 10-core initial biopsies.  Cancer was detected in 62 of 139 patients (44.6 %) who underwent saturation biopsy and in 45 of 87 patients (51.7 %) who underwent 10-core biopsy (p > 0.9).  Breakdown by PSA level failed to show benefit to the saturation technique for any degree PSA increase.  Men with PSA 2.5 to 9.9 ng/dl were found to have cancer in 53 of 122 (43.4 %) saturation biopsies and 26 of 58 (44.8 %) 10-core biopsies.  Complications included 3 cases of prostatitis in each group.  Rectal bleeding was troublesome enough to require evaluation only in 3 men in the saturation group and 1 in the 10-core group.  These investigators concluded that although saturation prostate biopsy improves cancer detection in men with suspicion of cancer following a negative biopsy, it does not appear to offer benefit as an initial biopsy technique.  These findings suggest that further efforts at extended biopsy strategies beyond 10 to 12 cores are not appropriate as an initial biopsy strategy.

In an accompanying editorial, Moon and Theodorescue (2006) reported that the literature shows average cancer detection rates on first repeat biopsy using standard techniques of 22 %, compared with detection rates ranging from 14 to 34 % on first repeat biopsy using saturation techniques.

Merrick et al (2007) ascertained the prostate cancer incidence, anatomical distribution, Gleason score profile, and tumor burden in patients diagnosed by transperineal template-guided saturation biopsy (TTSB).  A total of 102 patients underwent TTSB; all but 1 patient had undergone at least 1 prior negative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy.  Criteria for inclusion included an elevated PSA and/or the diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation or high-grade PIN on prior biopsy.  The prostate gland was divided into 24 regional biopsy locations.  The median number of biopsy cores was 50.  Multiple clinical parameters were assessed as predictors for prostate cancer diagnosis.  The mean patient age was 64.8 years with a mean PSA of 9.1 ng/ml and a prostate volume of 78.6 cm(3).  On average, patients had undergone 2.1 prior negative TRUS biopsies with a mean of 22.4 core biopsies.  Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 43 patients (42.2 %) with a Gleason score distribution of 6 to 9.  No anatomical region of the prostate gland was spared of cancer.  In patients with prostate cancer, an average of 9.9 cores were involved.  In multi-variate analysis, prostate volume was the best predictor for prostate cancer diagnosis.  The authors concluded that TTBS diagnosed prostate cancer in 42.2 % of patients.  Considerable anatomical variability in prostate cancer distribution was documented.  They also noted that TTBS “results in promising diagnostic yields for patients with prior negative TRUS biopsies.  However, ideal patient selection, optimal transperineal saturation biopsy technique, number of biopsy cores, and regions to be sampled remains to be clarified”.

Stav et al (2008) evaluated the diagnostic value of saturation prostate biopsy in patients with PSA greater than 10 ng/ml, PSA velocity greater than 0.75 ng/ml/year, free PSA ratio less than 0.2, and at least 3 sets of negative biopsy specimens.  A total of 27 patients underwent the procedure with the use of a transrectal approach under general or regional anesthesia.  A systematic coverage of the peripheral zone (PZ) was accomplished by maintaining a fixed distance between punctures (5 mm).  In addition, multiple cores were obtained from the transition zone bilaterally, bladder neck, and midline according to a strict pre-planned template.  The mean number of cores obtained per patient was 61.7 +/- 9.5 (range of 41 to 76).  Average PSA was 19.4 +/- 8.5 ng/ml (range of 10.1 to 49).  Prostate cancer (Gleason score 3+3) was found in 3 patients (11.1 %).  All 3 patients who received a diagnosis of cancer had minimal disease affecting less than 1 % of a single core sampled from the PZ.  Two patients were designated for watchful waiting and 1 patient chose radical prostatectomy.  His pathologic specimen contained carcinoma of prostate (Gleason 3+3) in less than 1 % of the total prostate volume.  All patients were discharged within 24 hours after the procedure.  Asymptomatic bacteremia was documented in 1 patient.  Two patients had epididymitis develop and were treated conservatively.  The authors concluded that according to their findings, saturation prostate biopsy has low diagnostic yield in patients who previously had at least 3 sets of negative traditional biopsy specimens.  In all the cases that prostate cancer was found, it had histologic features consistent with biologically insignificant disease.

Lane et al (2008) stated that it has been reported that the prostate cancer detection rate in men with PSA 2.5 ng/ml or greater undergoing saturation (20 cores or greater) prostate biopsy as an initial strategy is not higher than that in men who undergo 10 to 12 core prostate biopsy.  At a median follow-up of 3.2 years, these investigators reported the cancer detection rate on subsequent prostate biopsy in men who underwent initial saturation prostate biopsy.  Saturation prostate biopsy was used as an initial biopsy strategy in 257 men between January 2002 and April 2006.  Cancer was initially detected in 43 % of the patients who underwent saturation prostate biopsy.  In the 147 men with negative initial saturation prostate biopsy follow-up including DRE and repeat PSA measurement was recommended at least annually.  Persistently increased PSA or an increase in PSA was seen as an indication for repeat saturation prostate biopsy.  During the median follow-up of 3.2 years after negative initial saturation prostate biopsy 121 men (82 %) underwent subsequent evaluation with PSA and DRE.  Median PSA remained 4.0 ng/ml or greater in 57 % of the men and it increased by 1 ng/ml or greater in 23 %.  Cancer was detected in 14 of 59 men (24 %) undergoing repeat prostate biopsy for persistent clinical suspicion of prostate cancer.  No significant association was demonstrated between cancer detection and initial or follow-up PSA, or findings of atypia and high grade prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia on initial saturation prostate biopsy.  Cancers detected on repeat prostate biopsy were more likely to be Gleason 6 and organ confined at prostatectomy than were those diagnosed on initial saturation prostate biopsy.  The authors concluded that previous experience suggested that while office-based saturation prostate biopsy improves cancer detection in men who have previously undergone a negative prostate biopsy, it does not improve cancer detection as an initial biopsy technique.  Moreover, false-negative rate on subsequent prostate biopsy after initial saturation prostate biopsy is equivalent to that following traditional prostate biopsy.  These data provide further evidence against saturation prostate biopsy as an initial strategy.

Simon et al (2008) reported the findings of using an extensive saturation biopsy in men with negative prostate biopsies but in whom there is still a clinical suspicion for carcinoma.  A total of 40 patients (median age of 63 years) were offered an extensive saturation biopsy if there was clinical suspicion of prostate cancer after previous negative prostate biopsies.  The median (range) number of cores taken was 64 (39 to 139) and was adjusted to the size of the prostate.  All patients received general or spinal anesthesia.  Of the 40 patients, 18 (45 %) had carcinoma in at least 1 core; 16 had a radical prostatectomy, which showed pT2a, pT2b, pT2c, pT3a and pT3b adenocarcinoma of the prostate in 3, 4, 6, 2 and 1 patients, respectively.  Brachytherapy and external radiation were the therapies of choice in the other patients.  A total of 16 patients had marked hematuria after the biopsy procedure.  The authors concluded that there is no significant increase in the cancer detection rate in an extensive saturation-biopsy regimen compared to published series with fewer cores, but the morbidity increased.

Delongchamps and colleagues (2009) assessed a 36-core saturation biopsy scheme on autopsied prostate glands to estimate the detection rate based on the true cancer prevalence, and compared the cancer features on biopsy with whole-mount pathological analysis, as saturation biopsies have been proposed as a tool to increase the prostate cancer detection rate, and as a staging tool to identify potentially insignificant cancers before surgery.  These investigators took 36-core needle biopsies in 48 autopsied prostates from men who had no history of prostate cancer.  The first 18 cores corresponded to an extended biopsy protocol including 6 cores each in the mid peripheral zone (PZ), lateral PZ and central zone.  An additional 6 cores were then taken in each of these three locations.  They compared the histological characteristics of step-sectioned prostates with the biopsy findings.  Tumors were considered clinically insignificant if they were organ-confined with an index tumor volume of less than 0.5 ml and Gleason score of less than or equal to 6.  The pathological evaluation identified 12 (25 %) cases of prostate cancer and 22 tumor foci; 7 prostate cancers were significant.  Of the 22 tumor foci, 16 (73 %) were in the PZ.  The first 18 cores detected 7 cancers (58 %), of which 5 were clinically significant.  The last 18 cores detected 4 cancers, all of which were already detected by the first 18 cores.  Of the 5 cancers remaining undetected by biopsies, 2 were clinically significant and 3 were insignificant.  Comparison of the histological characteristics between biopsies and step-sectioned prostates showed an over-estimation of Gleason score by saturation biopsies in 3 of 7 cases.  The authors concluded that the evaluation of saturation biopsies based on the true prevalence of prostate cancer showed no increase in detection rate over a less extensive 18-core biopsy.  Also, saturation biopsies might over-estimate the final Gleason score on whole-mount analysis.

Guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN, 2009) state that for men at high risk for prostate cancer and multiple negative biopsies, consideration may be given to a saturation biopsy strategy.  NCCN guidelines recommend, in men with 2 negative extended biopsies, but persistently rising PSA values, a saturation biopsy may be considered.  The NCCN Guidelines cited a study by Stewart et al (2001) that found a prostate cancer detection rate of 34 % in a cohort of patients with an average of 2 previous negative sextant prostate biopsies.

Presti (2009) stated that repeat biopsies should include a minimum of 14 cores, the 12 cores recommended for an initial biopsy and 2 additional cores obtained form the right and left anterior apex.  In patients for whom repeat biopsies fail to identify cancer, yet the clinical suspicion remains high, consideration for a saturation biopsy approach seems warranted.

Scattoni and colleagues (2010) noted that prostate biopsy techniques have significantly changed since the original Hodge's "sextant scheme", which should now be considered obsolete.  The feasibility of performing a biopsy scheme with a high number of cores in an out-patient setting is a result of the great improvement and effectiveness of local anesthesia.  Peri-prostatic nerve block with lidocaine injection should be considered the "gold standard" because it provides the best pain relief to patients undergoing prostate biopsy.  The optimal extended protocol should now include the sextant template with an additional 4 to 6 cores directed laterally (anterior horn) to the base and medially to the apex.  Saturation biopsies (i.e., template with greater than or equal to 20 cores, including transition zone) should be carried out only when biopsies are repeated in patients where there is a high suspicion of prostate cancer.  Complementary imaging methods (e.g., color-Doppler and power-Doppler imaging, with or without contrast enhancement, and elastography) could be used in order to increase the accuracy of biopsy and reduce the number of unnecessary procedures.  However, the routine use of these methods is still under evaluation.

Guidance from the National Instutute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2010) states that current evidence on the efficacy of transperineal template biopsy of the prostate shows an increase in diagnostic yield in patients with suspected prostate cancer who have had negative or equivocal results from other biopsy methods.  The guidance states that there are no major safety concerns.  Therefore, this procedure may be used for this indication provided that normal arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent and audit.

NICE (2010) states that evidence was not found to support the use of transperineal template biopsy of the prostate as a mapping technique to determine the exact location and extent of prostate cancer in order to guide focal therapy, nor as part of an active surveillance regime.  Therefore, the procedure should be used with these intentions only with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit or research.

NCCN guidelines on prostate cancer early detection (2012) state that prostate saturation biospy should be considered for high-risk men with multiple negative biopsies. The guidelines state that, in patients with two negative extended prostate biopsies, yet persistently rising PSA values, a saturation biopsy may be considered.

Li and associates (2014) identified the ability of transrectal saturation prostate biopsy (SPBx) as the initial diagnostic approach to reduce the likelihood of finding previously unrecognized PCa during repeat prostate biopsy.  These investigators reviewed PCa detection in 561 men who underwent 1st repeat SPBx after initial negative biopsy between March 2002 and April 2012.  They divided the patients on the basis of the number of cores retrieved on initial biopsy (group 1, initial negative SPBx [n = 81] and group 2, initial negative extended prostate biopsy [n = 480]).  The yield of repeat SPBx was compared between the 2 groups.  Insignificant PCa and low-risk PCa were defined according to Epstein criteria and D'Amico risk criteria, respectively.  Prostate cancer detection on 1st repeat SPBx was 43.1 % lower in group 1 (19.8 % versus 34.8 %; p = 0.008).  Moreover, lower rate of significant PCa (31.3 % versus 74.3 %; p < 0.001) and intermediate- and/or high-risk PCa (25.0 % versus 50.9 %; p = 0.048) in group 1.  Multi-variate analysis confirmed that initial negative SPBx decreased PCa detection on 1st repeat SPBx (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95 % CI: 0.22 to 0.78).  The authors concluded that men whose initial biopsy was per transrectal saturation technique were less likely to have cancer identified during repeat biopsy.  Furthermore, PCa diagnosed after negative initial SPBx was much more likely to be clinically insignificant.  These findings suggested that SPBx may be less likely to miss clinically significant cancer during initial prostate biopsy.  They stated that if confirmed in other studies, this suggests that initial biopsy by saturation technique may eliminate the need for most men to undergo repeat biopsy.

Thompson et al (2015) examined if saturation or transperineal biopsy altered medium-term oncologic outcomes compared with standard transrectal biopsy in active surveillance (AS) for low-risk PCa.  These researchers performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 2 cohorts with localized PCa (1998 to 2012) undergoing AS.  Prostate cancer-specific, metastasis-free and treatment-free survival, unfavorable disease and significant cancer at RP were compared for standard (6 to 12 core, median of 10) versus saturation (greater than 12 core, median of 16), and transrectal versus transperineal biopsy, using multi-variate analysis.  A total of 650 men were analyzed; median (mean) follow-up of 55 (67) months.  Prostate cancer-specific, metastasis-free and BCR-free survival were 100 %, 100 % and 99 %, respectively.  Radical treatment-free survival at 5 and 10 years were 57 % and 45 % respectively (median time to treatment of 7.5 years).  On KM analysis, saturation biopsy was associated with increased objective biopsy progression requiring treatment (log rank x2 = 5.87, p = 0.01).  On multi-variate pH analysis, saturation biopsy (HR = 1.68, p < 0.01) but not transperineal approach (p = 0.89) was associated with increased objective biopsy progression requiring treatment.  On logistic regression analysis of 179 men who underwent RP for objective progression, transperineal biopsy was associated with lower likelihood of unfavorable RP pathology (OR = 0.42, p = 0.03) but saturation biopsy did not alter the likelihood (p = 0.25).  Neither transperineal nor saturation biopsy altered the likelihood of significant versus insignificant cancer at RP (p = 0.19 and p = 0.41, respectively).  The authors concluded that active surveillance achieved satisfactory oncologic outcomes.  They stated that saturation biopsy increased progression to treatment on AS; longer follow-up is needed to determine if this represents beneficial earlier detection of significant disease or over-treatment.  Transperineal biopsy reduced the likelihood of unfavorable disease at RP, possibly due to earlier detection of anterior tumors.

Isbarn et al (2015) stated that prostate biopsy (PB) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of PCa.  However, the optimal number of biopsy cores remains debatable.  These researchers compared contemporary standard (10 to 12 cores) versus saturation (18 cores) schemes on initial as well as repeat PB.  A non-systematic review of the literature was performed from 2000 through 2013.  Studies of highest evidence (randomized controlled trials [RCT], prospective non-randomized studies, and retrospective reports of high quality) comparing standard versus saturation schemes on initial and repeat PB were evaluated.  Outcome measures were overall PCa detection rate, detection rate of insignificant PCa, and procedure-associated morbidity.  On initial PB, there is growing evidence that a saturation scheme is associated with a higher PCa detection rate compared to a standard one in men with lower PSA levels (less than 10 ng/ml), larger prostates (greater than 40 cc), or lower PSA density values (less than 0.25 ng/ml/cc).  However, these cut-offs are not uniform and differ among studies.  Detection rates of insignificant PCa do not differ in a significant fashion between standard and saturation biopsies.  On repeat PB, PCa detection rate is likewise higher with saturation protocols.  Estimates of insignificant PCa vary widely due to differing definitions of insignificant disease.  However, the rates of insignificant PCa appear to be comparable for the schemes in patients with only 1 prior negative biopsy, while saturation biopsy seems to detect more cases of insignificant PCa compared to standard biopsy in men with 2 or more prior negative biopsies.  Very extensive sampling is associated with a high rate of acute urinary retention, whereas other severe adverse events, such as sepsis, appear not to occur more frequently with saturation schemes.  The authors concluded that current evidence suggested that saturation schemes are associated with a higher PCa detection rate compared to standard ones on initial PB in men with lower PSA levels or larger prostates, and on repeat PB.  They noted that since most data are derived from retrospective studies, other end-points such as detection rate of insignificant disease -- especially on repeat PB -- showed broad variations throughout the literature and must, thus, be interpreted with caution.  They stated that future prospective RCTs should be conducted to compare extended templates with newer techniques, such as image-guided sampling, in order to optimize PCa diagnostic strategy.

Kato and colleagues (2016) noted that saturation prostate biopsy protocols have been developed to improve the PCa detection rate, particularly in the setting of repeat biopsies.  These investigators clarified the association between PCa detection and various risk factors in repeat saturation biopsies. A  retrospective analysis was conducted on 78 Japanese patients for whom findings had caused suspicion of PCa despite previous negative prostate biopsies, and who consecutively underwent a 24-core TP repeat biopsy; PCa was confirmed histologically in 16 of the 78 patients (20.5 %).  A univariate analysis revealed that PSA level at repeat biopsy was higher (p < 0.01), the free PSA/total PSA ratio was lower (p = 0.04), the total prostate volume was smaller (p = 0.01) and the PSA density was higher (p < 0.01) in PCa patients than in patients with benign prostatic disease (BPD).  Histological inflammation was more frequently observed in BPD patients than in PCa patients (p < 0.01).  A multivariate analysis revealed that histological inflammation was the only independent predictor of the presence of a malignant lesion on repeat biopsy (OR, 0.027; p = 0.01).  The authors concluded that it must be considered that inflammation may cause a PSA increase in some patients with a negative initial biopsy, leading to unnecessary repeat biopsy.

Ting and associates (2016) compared the performance of multi-parametric MRI/US fusion targeted biopsy (MRI/US-TBx) to a combined biopsy strategy (MRI/US-TBx plus 24-core TP template saturation mapping biopsy (TTMB)).  Between May 2012 and October 2015, all patients undergoing MRI/US-TBx at the authors’ institution were included for analysis.  Patients underwent MRI/US-TBx of suspicious lesions detected on multi-parametric MRI +/- simultaneous TTMB.  Subgroup analysis was performed on patients undergoing simultaneous MRI/US-TBx + TTMB.  Primary outcome was PCa detection.  Significant PCa was defined as greater than or equal to Gleason score (GS) 3 + 4 = 7 PCa.  McNemar's test was used to compare detection rates between MRI/US-TBx and the combined biopsy strategy.  A total of 148 patients underwent MRI/US-TBx and 80 patients underwent MRI/US-TBx + TTMB.  In the MRI/US-TBx versus combined biopsy strategy subgroup analysis (n = 80), there were 55 PCa and 38 significant PCa.  The detection rate for the combined biopsy strategy versus MRI/US-TBx for significant PCa was 49 % versus 40 % (p = 0.02) and for insignificant PCa was 20 % versus 10 % (p = 0.04), respectively; 11 cases (14 %) of significant PCa were detected exclusively on MRI/US-TBx and 7 cases (8.7 %) of significant PCa were detected exclusively on TTMB.  The authors concluded that a combined biopsy approach (MRI/US-TBx + TTMB) detects more significant PCa than MRI/US-TBx alone; however, it will double the detection rate of insignificant PCa.

An UpToDate review on “Saturation biopsy” (Benway and Andriole, 2017) states that “Saturation biopsy is typically performed in the outpatient setting under regional or general anesthesia due to concerns for pain control, and because it is thought to be associated with an increased incidence of morbidity (e.g., severe hematuria) requiring hospital admission.  However, a systematic review that identified 8 studies comparing saturation with extended biopsy found no significant differences in infection, hematuria, or bleeding between the groups …  Saturation biopsy is not appropriate for initial screening but may be performed after a second negative TRUS-biopsy in the patient for whom clinical suspicion for prostate cancer remains high.  Saturation biopsy detects prostate cancer in 22 to 33 % of patients undergoing repeat biopsy, but is associated with a higher incidence of complications”.

Zhou and colleagues (2018) compared the accuracy of magnetic resonance-guided prostate biopsy (MR-GPB) and template-guided transperineal prostate saturation biopsy (TTPSB).  A total of 219 patients with elevated PSA, abnormal DRE or US findings were enrolled.  All patients underwent multi-parametric magnetic resonance image (mpMRI).  Patients with a Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 3 to 5 underwent MR-GPB using 2 to 5 biopsy cores and then immediately underwent an 11-region TTPSB.  Patients with a PI-RADS score of 1 to 2 underwent TTPSB alone.  These investigators compared the detection rates for any cancer, clinically significant PCa (csPCA), and the spatial distribution of missed csPCA lesions.  Among the 219 cases, 66 (30.1 %) had a PI-RADS score of 1 to 2 on mpMRI.  The detection rate of TTPSB in these patients was 9.1 % (6/66).  In total, detection rates for any cancer and csPCA were 48.9 % (107/219) and 42.9 % (94/219), respectively.  Detection rates for any cancer (TTPSB 87/219, 39.7 %; MR-GPB76/219, 34.7 %, p = 0.161) and csPCA (TTPSB 76/219, 34.7 %; MR-GPB 72/219, 32.9 %, p = 0.636) did not significantly differ between the 2 groups.  The csPCA lesions missed by MR-GPB were most commonly located on the left (8.5 %, 8/94) and right (9.6 %, 9/94) sides of the urethra.  The authors concluded that MR-GPB could reduce the rate of unnecessary prostate biopsies by approximately 30 % and exhibited an efficacy comparable to TTPSB for the detection of any cancer and csPCA.  Nevertheless, approximately 25 % of csPCAs were missed by MR-GPB and were most commonly located on both sides of the urethra.

The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks.  First, the MR-GPB group included 2 methods of biopsy: MRI-TRUS fusion biopsy and cognitive fusion biopsy.  Nevertheless, some evidence showed that no significant differences in efficacy exist between these methods.  Second, while the most reliable method to reveal missed diagnoses of cancer lesions is examining radical prostatectomy specimens, these researchers did not collect these materials in this study.  Third, these investigators performed TTPSB after MR-GPB in patients with abnormal MRI findings.  Thus, MR-GPB potentially affected US imaging of local hemorrhage and further impaired the efficacy of TTPSB, which was an inevitable systemic error.  Fourth, although MR-GPB had a comparable efficacy to TTPSB for any cancer and csPCA detection, TTPSB may be selected for diagnosing PCa because it was cheaper than that of MR-GPB.

know error® DNA Specimen Provenance Assay

DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) Testing (eg, know error® system) is a molecular diagnostic test intended for the protection and control of tissue samples to purportedly decrease the incidence of diagnostic mistakes due to an individual’s misidentification, specimen transposition or cell contamination, known as specimen provenance complications (SPCs). Breast and prostate tissues are most often tested but other tissue types may also be examined including, but not limited to, bone marrow.

The know error® DNA Specimen Provenance Assay is a forensic assay to confirm that a surgical specimen belongs to the patient evaluated for treatment.  According to the manufacturer, the know error® system features a DNA verification test that is intended to eliminate diagnostic mistakes due to specimen provenance complications. This testing incorporates three steps:

1.  before a biopsy procedure, a reference sample of the patient's DNA is taken by swabbing the inside of the patient's cheek; the swab is sent to an independent forensic DNA lab;
2.  the patient’s biopsy tissue samples are placed in bar coded specimen containers from the biopsy kit and sent to the pathology lab for evaluation;
3.  if the biopsy results come back positive, the forensics lab performs a DNA specimen provenance assignment using genetic microsatellite analysis.

This test compares the short tandem repeat profile of the patient's biopsy tissue to the patient's reference sample. The manufacturer explained that concurrence of these short tandem repeat profiles allows the practitioner to rule out specimen provenance complications. Once a DNA test is complete, the forensics lab issues an electronic report. If specimen provenance complications are indicated, the appropriate parties are notified to address the error via a defined protocol. Aetna considers the know error® system to be part of the laboratory's quality control for specimens, and is not separately reimbursed.

Spectral Analysis of Prostate Tissue by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Werahera and associates (2014) stated that transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies often fail to diagnose PCa with 90 % of cores reported as benign.  Therefore, it is desirable to target PCa lesions while reducing the sampling of benign tissue.  The concentrations of natural fluorophores in prostate tissue fluctuate with disease states.  Hence, fluorescence spectroscopy could be used to quantify these fluctuations to identify PCa.  An optical biopsy needle with a light sensitive optical probe at the tip of the inner needle was developed to take prostate biopsies after measuring tissue fluorescence with a laboratory fluorometer.  The optical probe consists of 8 100-μm fibers for tissue excitation and a single 200-μm fiber to capture fluorescence spectra.  Random biopsy cores were taken from 20 surgically excised prostates after measuring fluorescence spectra of tissue between 295-550 nm for several excitations between 280-350 nm.  Each biopsy core was histopathologically classified and correlated with corresponding spectra.  Prostate biopsies were grouped into benign or malignant based on the histological findings.  Out of 187 biopsy cores, 109 were benign and 78 were malignant.  Partial least square analysis of tissue spectra was performed to identify diagnostically significant principal components as potential classifiers.  A linear support vector machine and leave-one-out cross validation method was employed for tissue classification.  Study results showed 86 % sensitivity, 87 % specificity, 90 % negative predictive value (NPV), and 83 % positive predictive value (PPV) for benign versus malignant prostate tissue classification.  The authors concluded that the findings of this study demonstrated potential clinical applications of fluorescence spectroscopy guided optical biopsy needle for PCa diagnosis with the consequent improvement of patient care.

Werahera and colleagues (2015) noted that current prostate biopsy cores have a very low diagnostic yield.  These biopsies often fail to diagnose PCa since 90 % of cores are histopathologically classified as benign.  The concentrations of endogenous fluorophores in prostate tissue vary with disease states.  Therefore, fluorescence spectroscopy could be employed to quantify these variations for identification of malignant lesions.  These researchers examined clinical feasibility of a 14-G (1.98 mm) optical biopsy needle guided by fluorescence spectroscopy for real-time in-vivo PCa diagnosis.  Built-in optical sensor has 8 × 100 μm fibers for tissue excitation and a single 200-μm fiber to collect spectral data.  Custom-made fluorometer has 2 light-emitting diodes at 290- and 340-nm and a spectrometer.  User interface for fluorometer operation and data collection was developed using LabView software.  Each spectral data acquisition required approximately 2 seconds.  The in-vivo biopsies were performed during radical retropubic prostatectomy surgery on the exposed prostate with blood flow to the gland intact.  A tissue biopsy core was obtained from each biopsy site following acquisition of spectral data.  Above procedure was repeated ex-vivo following surgical excision of the prostate.  Biopsy cores were histopathologically classified as either benign or malignant and correlated with corresponding spectral data.  Partial Least Square analysis was performed to determine diagnostically significant principal components as potential classifiers.  A linear support vector machine and leave-one-out cross validation method was employed for tissue classification.  A total of 13 patients consented to the study.  Histopathological analysis found cancer in 29/208 in-vivo and 51/224 ex-vivo viable biopsy cores.  Study results showed 72 % sensitivity, 66 % specificity, and 93 % NPV for in-vivo and 75 %, 80 %, and 93 %, respectively, for ex-vivo malignant versus benign prostatic tissue classification.  Optical biopsy needle has a very high NPV to indicate benign tissue while sufficient sensitivity for targeting areas suspicious for cancer within the prostate gland.  The authors concluded that the optical biopsy needle could increase the diagnostic yield of prostate biopsies with consequent improvement in patient care.

Turnbull and Luyt (2018) noted that ZnII concentrations in malignant prostate tissues are much lower than in benign or healthy, suggesting that ZnII levels are a potential biomarker for PCa.  Five 2,2'-bipyridine ligands were synthesized containing amino substituents with varying electron-donating ability for investigation as fluorescent ZnII indicators.  The excited state characteristics of the ligands were explored by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.  3,3'-Diamino-2,2'-bipyridine (1) was previously shown to be weakly fluorescent as a result of π→π* transitions.  The other 4 ligands had properties consistent with an n→π* intra-ligand charge transfer excited state.  Strongly donating amino and aminophenyl (2 and 4) substituents gave low quantum yields, while weaker donating benzimidazole substituents (6 and 7) gave high quantum yields.  Absorption and fluorescence wavelengths underwent bathochromic shifts upon ZnII binding in a majority of cases.  Quantum yields drastically increased upon ZnII binding for 1 and 2, but decreased for 4, 6, and 7.  Compounds 6 and 7 were incubated with PC-3, DU 145 and BPH-1 cells to determine their ZnII sensing abilities in a biological system.  Weak fluorescence was observed in BPH-1 cells and subsequent incubation with ZnII caused fluorescence intensity to increase.  The authors concluded that no fluorescence was observed in PCa cell lines; and further investigation of these ligands may allow for quantitative determination of ZnII concentrations in ex-vivo tissue samples. Furthermore, National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s clinical practice guideline on “Prostate cancer” (Version 2.2019) does not mention fluorescence spectroscopy as a management tool.

Transperineal or Transrectal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-Guided Prostate Biopsy (Including the In-Bore (Direct) Approach)

The use of an magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy (MRI-GB) serves 2 functions.  First, to identify areas in the prostate that could harbor a high-grade tumor; and secondly, to divert attention from any clinically insignificant prostate cancer (insignPCa) not needing treatment.  In accomplishing the secondary function, patients are placed into 1 of 2 categories: those only needing AS; and those needing definitive intervention.  In-bore (direct) MRI-guided biopsy (MRI-TB) refers to a transrectal biopsy performed when the patient is in the multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) scanner.  The radiologist fuses a previous MRI image with a contemporaneous MRI to localize needle and sample the target areas only.  Serial MRI scans are carried out to confirm the biopsy needle placement.  Diagnostic quality images used to identify areas of interest are registered with the interventional images (often acquired at 1 to 1.5T).  Studies have reported that MRI-TB has a median cancer detection rate that is significantly higher than random biopsies  Furthermore, only suspicious lesions are sampled, because tissues with a “normal” appearance on MRI are not obtained.

Nelson et al (2013) stated that there is no consensus on how to investigate men with negative TRUS-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-GB) but ongoing suspicion of cancer.  Three strategies used are: trans-perineal (TP-B), transrectal saturation (TS-B), and MRI-GB.  These researchers compared cancer yields of these strategies.  Papers were identified by search of PubMed, Embase and Ovid Medline.  Included studies investigated biopsy diagnostic yield in men with at least 1 negative TRUS-B and ongoing suspicion of PCa.  Data including age, PSA, number of previous biopsy episodes, number of cores at re-biopsy, cancer yield, and Gleason score of detected cancers were extracted.  Meta-regression analyses were used to analyze the data.  A total of 46 studies were included; 12 of TS-B, 14 of TP-B, and 20 of MRI-GB, representing 4,657 patients.  Mean patient age, PSA and number of previous biopsy episodes were similar between the strategies.  The mean number of biopsy cores obtained by TP-B and TS-B were greater than MRI-GB.  Cancer detection rates were 30.0 %, 36.8 %, and 37.6 % for TS-B, TP-B, and MRI-GB, respectively.  Meta-regression analysis showed that MRI-GB had significantly higher cancer detection than TS-B.  There were no significant differences however between MRI-GB and TP-B, or TP-B and TS-B.  In a sensitivity analysis incorporating number of previous biopsy episodes (36 studies), the difference between MRI-GB and TP-B was not maintained resulting in no significant difference in cancer detection between the groups.  There were no significant differences in median Gleason scores detected comparing the 3 strategies.  The authors concluded that in the re-biopsy setting, it was unclear which strategy offered the highest cancer detection rate.  MRI-B may potentially detect more PCas than other modalities and can achieve this with fewer biopsy cores.  However, they stated that well-designed prospective studies with standardized outcome measures are needed to accurately compare modalities and define an optimum re-biopsy approach.

Wegelin et al (2017) noted that the introduction of MRI-GB has changed the paradigm concerning prostate biopsies.  Presently, 3 techniques of MRI-GB are available: MRI-TB, MRI-TRUS fusion (FUS-TB), and cognitive registration (COG-TB).  These researchers examined if MRI-GB has increased detection rates of clinically significant PCa (csPCa) compared with TRUS-GB in patients at risk for PCa, and which technique of MRI-GB had the highest detection rate of csPCa.  They carried out a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases.  Studies were evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 checklist and START recommendations.  The initial search identified 2,562 studies and 43 were included in the meta-analysis.  Among the included studies, 11 used MRI-TB, 17 used FUS-TB, 11 used COG-TB, and 4 used a combination of techniques.  In 34 studies concurrent TRUS-GB was performed.  There was no significant difference between MRI-GB (all techniques combined) and TRUS-GB for overall PCa detection (relative risk [RR] 0.97 [0.90 to 1.07]).  MRI-GB had higher detection rates of csPCa compared with TRUS-GB (RR 1.16 [1.02 to 1.32]), and a lower yield of insignPCa (RR 0.47 [0.35 to 0.63]).  There was a significant advantage (p = 0.02) of MRI-TB compared with COG-TB for overall PCa detection.  For overall PCa detection there was no significant advantage of MRI-TB compared with FUS-TB (p = 0.13), and neither for FUS-TB compared with COG-TB (p = 0.11).  For csPCa detection there was no significant advantage of any one technique of MRI-GB.  The impact of lesion characteristics such as size and location could not be assessed.  The authors concluded that MRI-GB had similar overall PCa detection rates compared with TRUS-GB, increased rates of csPCa, and decreased rates of insignPCa.  MRI-TB had a superior overall PCa detection compared with COG-TB; FUS-TB and MRI-TB appeared to have similar detection rates.

Tu and colleagues (2019) stated that the diagnostic accuracy of MRI-targeted biopsy by using the trans-perineal (TP) versus trans-rectal (TR) route in the detection of csPCa remains to be revealed.  These investigators carried out a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library up to April 2019.  They pooled ORs with 95 % CIs for csPCa detected by TP and TR MRI-targeted biopsy.  The relative sensitivity (RR) between TP and TR route was synthesized.  These researchers also pooled the diagnostic sensitivity of either approach using the combined biopsy results as the reference standard.  A total of 328 patients with positive mpMRI underwent TP MRI-targeted biopsy, and 315 patients underwent TR MRI-targeted biopsy.  The TP route detected more csPCa, with a detection rate of 62.2 % (204/328) compared to 41.3 % (130/315) for the TR route (OR = 2.37; 95 % CI: 1.71 to 3.26).  After adjusting for differences in cancer prevalence, TP MRI-targeted biopsy detected 91.3 % (105/115) of csPCa compared to 72.2 % (83/115) by the TR route (RR = 1.26; 95 % CI: 1.02 to 1.54).  The pooled diagnostic sensitivity of the TP route (86 %; 95 % CI: 77 to 96) was better than the TR route (73 %, 95 % CI: 62 to 88 %).  The TR approach missed more csPCa located at the anterior zone of the prostate (20 versus 3).  The TP route performed better than the TR route in MRI-targeted biopsy, especially in detecting csPCa located at the anterior prostate.

van der Leest and associates (2019) noted that there is growing interest to implement mpMRI and MRI-GB for biopsy-naïve men with suspected PCa.  In a prospective, multi-center, comparative effectiveness study, these researchers evaluated an MRI pathway and a TRUS-GB pathway in biopsy-naïve men with PSA levels of greater than or equal to 3 ng/ml.  This trial included 626 biopsy-naïve patients (from February 2015 to February 2018).  All patients underwent pre-biopsy mpMRI followed by systematic TRUS-GB.  Men with suspicious lesions on mpMRI also underwent MRI-GB prior to TRUS-GB.  MRI-GB was performed using the in-bore approach (MRI-TB); csPCa was defined as grade group of greater than or equal to 2 (Gleason score greater than or equal to 3+4) in any core.  Secondary objectives were the number of men who could avoid biopsy after non-suspicious mpMRI, the number of biopsy cores taken, and oncologic follow-up.  Differences in proportions were tested using McNemar's test with adjusted Wald confidence intervals for differences of proportions with matched pairs.  The MRI pathway detected csPCa in 159/626 (25 %) patients and insignPCa in 88/626 patients (14 %).  TRUS-GB detected csPCa in 146/626 patients (23 %) and insignPCa in 155/626 patients (25 %).  Relative sensitivity of the MRI pathway versus the TRUS-GB pathway was 1.09 for csPCa (p = 0.17) and 0.57 for insignPCa (p < 0.0001).  The total number of biopsy cores reduced from 7,512 to 849 (-89 %).  The MRI pathway enabled biopsy avoidance in 309/626 (49 %) patients due to non-suspicious mpMRI.  Immediate TRUS-GB detected csPCa in only 3 % (10/309) of these patients, increasing to 4 % (13/309) with 1-year follow-up.  At the same time, TRUS-GB would over-detect insignPCa in 20 % (63/309).  "Focal saturation" by 4 additional perilesional cores to MRI-GB improved the detection of csPCa in 21/317 (7 %) patients.  Compared with the literature, this proportion of non-suspicious mpMRI cases was significantly higher (27 to 36 % versus 49 %) and that of equivocal cases was lower (15 to 28 % versus 6 %).  This was probably due to the high-quality standard in this study.  Thus, a limitation of this study was the duplication of these results in less experienced centers.  The authors concluded that in biopsy-naïve men, the MRI pathway compared with the TRUS-GB pathway resulted in an identical detection rate of csPCa, with significantly fewer insignPCa cases.  In this high-quality standard study, almost 50 % of men had non-suspicious MRI, which was higher compared with other studies.  Not performing TRUS biopsy was at the cost of missing csPCa only in 4 %.  Men also needed fewer needles to make a diagnosis.

The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks.  First, reproducing these findings outside expert centers may be a challenge, but as shown in this study, it is not impossible.  A well-designed training program can achieve high inter-reader agreements for PI-RADS score allocations as well as for biopsy decision-making.  Second, MRI-GB and TRUS-GB were undertaken in sequence on the same day.  The visible MRI-GB needle track could have influenced the urologist in TRUS-GB needle placements.  Moreover, when TRUS-GB was abnormal, a needle targeted to the abnormality was undertaken in lieu of the sextant core.  This could inflate the PCa detection rates of TRUS-GB, although biopsy hemorrhage from MRI-GB may partly negate this effect.  Third, even though this study used MR-TB (in-bore), which is considered the optimal MRI-targeting technique for smaller lesions, a recent review showed that in-bore MRI-GB and MR-TRUS-fusion-guided biopsy were equally accurate, and results were potentially translatable to MR-TRUS-fusion-guided biopsies.  Fourth, some investigators have noted that selective sampling of the most aggressive part of a cancer by MRI-GB may lead to risk-stratification errors and can potentially lead to over-treatments of csPCa detected by MRI-GB.  However, a comparison of TRUS-GB and MRI-GB with prostatectomy specimens within this study did not show marked differences between histologic down- and up-grading.  Finally, the low rate of infection-related complications could be further reduced by utilizing TP template mapping biopsies instead of the TR sampling route used in this study.

Wegelin et al (2019) stated that guidelines advise mpMRI before repeat biopsy in patients with negative systematic biopsy (SB) and a suspicion of PCa, enabling MRI targeted biopsy (TB).  No consensus exists regarding which of the 3 available techniques of TB should be preferred.  In a multi-center RCT, these researchers compared detection rates of overall PCa and csPCa for the 3 MRI-based TB techniques.  This trial included 665 men with prior negative SB and a persistent suspicion of PCa, conducted between 2014 and 2017 at 2 non-academic teaching hospitals and an academic hospital.  All patients underwent 3T mpMRI evaluated PI-RADS version 2.  If imaging demonstrated PI-RADS of greater than or equal to 3 lesions, patients were randomized 1:1:1 for one TB technique: FUS-TB, COG-TB, or MRI-TB.  Primary (overall PCa detection) and secondary (csPCa detection [Gleason score of greater than or equal to 3+4]) outcomes were compared using Pearson Chi-square test.  On mpMRI, 234/665 (35 %) patients had PI-RADS  of greater than or equal to 3 lesions and underwent TB.  There were no significant differences in the detection rates of overall PCa (FUS-TB 49 %, COG-TB 44 %, MRI-TB 55 %, p = 0.4).  PCa detection rate differences were -5 % between FUS-TB and MRI-TB (p = 0.5, 95 % CI: -21 % to 11 %), 6 % between FUS-TB and COG-TB (p = 0.5, 95 % CI: -10 % to 21 %), and -11 % between COG-TB and MRI-TB (p = 0.17, 95 % CI: -26 % to 5 %).  There were no significant differences in the detection rates of csPCa (FUS-TB 34 %, COG-TB 33 %, MRI-TB 33 %, p > 0.9).  Differences in csPCa detection rates were 2 % between FUS-TB and MRI-TB (p = 0.8, 95 % CI: -13 % to 16 %), 1 % between FUS-TB and COG-TB (p > 0.9, 95 % CI: -14 % to 16 %), and 1 % between COG-TB and MRI-TB (p > 0.9, 95 % CI: -14 % to 16 %).  The main study limitation was a low rate of PI-RADS of greater than or equal to 3 lesions on mpMRI, causing under-powering for primary outcome.  The authors found no significant differences in the detection rates of csPCa among the 3 MRI-based TB techniques.

Porreca et al (2020) examined the role of a negative in-bore MRI-GB in comparison to a negative mpMRI and a contextual negative TRUS-GB of the prostate with regard to incidental PCa findings in the surgical specimen of men who underwent to Holmium Laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP) with a pre-operative suspicion of PCa.  Data from 117 of symptomatic patients for bladder outflow obstruction who subsequently underwent to HoLEP was retrospectively analyzed form a multi-centric data-base.  All patients had a raised serum PSA and/or an abnormal DRE with a pre-interventional mpMRI.  Prostate cancer was excluded either with an en-bore MRI-GB (group "IN-BORE MRI-GB" n = 57) in case of a suspect area at the mpMRI or with a standard biopsy (group "mpMRI + TRUS-GB" n = 60) in case of a negative mpMRI.  Pre-operative characteristic surgical and histological outcomes were analyzed.  Uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression model was performed to examine independent predictors of incidental PCa (iPCa).  Both groups presented moderate-to-severe lower tract urinary symptoms: median International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) was 19 (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 17.0 to 22.0) in the IN-BORE MRI-GB group and 20 (IQR: 17.5-22.0) in the mpMRI + TRUS-GB (p = 0.71).  No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups besides total prostate volume with 68 cc (IQR: 58.0 to 97.0) in the IN-BORE MRI-GB group and 84 cc (IQR: 70.0 to 115.0) in the mpMRI + TRU-GB group (p = 0.01).  No differences were registered in surgical time, removed tissue, catheterization time, hospital stay and complications rate.  No different rates (p = 0.50) of iPCa were found in the IN-BORE MRI-GB group (14 %) in comparison with mpMRI + TRUS-GB group (10 %); pT stage and International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group in iPCa stratification were comparable between the 2 groups.  In multi-variate analysis a statistically significant correlation with age as an independent predictive factor of iPCa was found (OR 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.02 to 1.27; p = 0.02) while no correlations were revealed with PSA (OR 1.12; 95 % CI: 0.99 to 1.28; p = 0.08) and a negative in-bore MRI-GB (OR 1.72; 95 % CI: 0.51 to 5.77; p = 0.37).  The authors concluded that including a mpMRI and an eventual in-bore MRI-GB represented a novel clinical approach before surgery in patients with symptomatic obstruction with a concomitant suspicion of PCa, leading to low rate of iPCa and avoiding unnecessary standard TRUS-GB biopsies.

D'Agostino et al (2020) examined the detection rate (DR) efficiency, and complication rate in a pure "in-bore" MRI-GB series according to the PI-RADS version 2.  From July 2015 to April 2018, a total of 142 consecutive patients undergoing MRI-GB were prospectively enrolled.  According to the European Society of Urogenital Radiology guidelines, the presence of csPCa on mpMRI was defined as equivocal, likely, or highly likely according to a PI-RADS version 2, score of 3, 4, or 5, respectively.  Of 142 patients, 76 (53.5 %) were biopsy-naive and 66 (46.5 %) had less than or equal to 1 previous negative set of random TRUS-GB findings.  The MRI-GB findings were positive in 75 of 142 patients with a DR of 52.8 %.  Of the 76 patients with less than or equal to 1 previous set of TRUS-GB, 43 had PCa found by MRI-GB, with a DR of 57.3 %.  The DR in the 66 biopsy-naive patients was 48 % (32/66).  Of the 75 patients with positive biopsy findings, 54 (80.5 %) were found to have csPCa on histological examination.  Of these 54 patients, 28 had an ISUP grade-2; 5 had grade 3, 19 had grade-4, and 2 had grade-5.  Considering the anatomic distribution of the index lesions using the PI-RADS version 2 scheme, the probability of PCa was greater for lesions located in the peripheral zone (55 of 75, 73.3 %) than for those in the central zone (20 of 75, 26.7 %).  The authors concluded that the findings of this study confirmed the greater DR of csPCa by MRI-GB, with a very low number of cores needed and a negligible incidence of complications, especially in patients with a previous negative biopsy.  These investigators stated that MRI-GB is optimal for the diagnosis of anterior and central lesions.

Furthermore, an UpToDate review on “Prostate biopsy” (Benway and Andriole, 2020) states that “Although ultrasound has been the primary imaging modality used to guide prostate biopsy, other imaging modalities, including MRI and computed tomography (CT), can also be used.  In particular, MRI provides superior resolution of prostate anatomy and potential targets for biopsy (especially anterior tumors) compared with other imaging modalities.  MRI-defined lesions can be targeted for biopsy in several ways … Targeting within the magnet (i.e., "in-bore" targeting) is a technique in which MRI is used to directly guide prostate biopsy in real-time”.

Ultrasound Superb Microvascular Imaging for Guiding Targeted Biopsy of the Prostate

Wang and Tao (2020) stated that US-guided prostate puncture is the most important way for clinical diagnosis of PCa.  With extended biopsy, the positive rate was not significantly increased, but the puncture complications were significantly increased.  To improve the accuracy rate of PCa puncture and reduce the complications and pain of patients is the focus of prostate puncture research.  Studies suggested that superb microvascular imaging (SMI) technology is helpful in improving the accuracy of PCa puncture.  However, no study has published focusing on the systematic and comprehensive summary of the existing clinical evidence, which may restrict its application.  In this study, these investigators will determine the accuracy of SMI in the location diagnosis for PCa.  They will search PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Chinese biomedical databases from their inceptions to the October 31, 2020.  Two authors will independently search literature records; scan titles and abstracts, full texts; collect data, and examine risk of bias.  Review Manager 5.2 and Stata14.0 software will be used for data analysis.  This systematic review / meta-analysis will determine the accuracy of SMI in guiding targeted biopsy of PCa.  The authors concluded that the findings of this meta-analysis will provide helpful evidence for the accuracy of SMI in guiding targeted biopsy of PCa.

Furthermore, National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s clinical practice guideline on “Prostate cancer” (Version 2.2021) does not mention superb microvascular imaging as a management tool.

Micro-Ultrasound Guided Prostate Biopsy

Weimer et al (2021) stated that although mpMRI revolutionized the implementation of prostate biopsies, a considerable amount of csPCa is missed when performing mpMRI-targeted biopsies only.  Micro-ultrasound (MicroUS) is a new modality that allows real-time targeting of suspicious regions.  These investigators examined MicroUS of the prostate with real-time targeting of suspicious regions in patients suspected to have PCa.  They examined 159 patients with prior mpMRI and suspicion of PCa with MicroUS from February 2018 to December 2018.  MicroUS lesions were documented according to the prostate risk identification for MicroUS (PRI-MUS) protocol; and were blinded to the mpMRI results and targeted independently of the mpMRI lesions.  The main outcomes were cancer detection rate, additional detection of csPCa, and ISUP grade group upgrading via MicroUS.  PCa was found in 113/159 (71 %) men, with 49 % (78/159) having csPCa (ISUP greater than or equal to 2).  MicroUS-targeted biopsies resulted in a higher ISUP grade group than the non-targeted biopsies in 26 % (42/159), compared with both non-targeted and MRI-targeted biopsies in 16 % (26/159).  In 17 % (27/159) of patients, targeted mpMRI-guided biopsy was negative with cancer identified in the MicroUS-guided biopsy, of whom 20 had csPCa.  The comparison with only MRI-positive patients was the main limitation of this analysis.  The authors concluded that findings of this study demonstrated an added benefit of MicroUS in addition to mpMRI-targeted biopsies in men at risk of PCa.  A novel biopsy protocol with solely targeted biopsy with MicroUS and mpMRI appeared possible, replacing conventional US and omitting standard systematic biopsies.  Moreover, these researchers stated that well-designed prospective trials are needed to examine the clinical value of MicroUS compared with mpMRI before the initial biopsy.

The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks.  This was an analysis of these investigators’ first patients examined with MicroUS.  Although all operators received standardized training from Exact Imaging, a learning curve effect might have biased these findings.  These researchers analyzed all patients with the indication for a prostate biopsy who came to their institution in the given time frame, regardless of prostate size or biopsy indication.  These investigators also included patients under active surveillance, although the examiner did not know this information prior to documenting the PRI-MUS lesions.  This may have resulted in a higher number of targets and may also have increased cancer detection.  In addition, previous biopsies potentially produce artifacts.  Information on such artifacts, which might have influenced the biopsy, were not collected.  The element of operator bias could not be excluded since their patients were men with positive mpMRI, and it could be argued that in such a cohort, both systematic and MicroUS biopsies would be expected to perform well.  Without an accurate reference standard (i.e., saturation/template biopsy/whole gland pathology), it was not possible to determine absolute sensitivity; however, the authors calculated the relative sensitivity of MicroUS compared with cancers detected by the full biopsy protocol.  Sensitivity, specificity, and NPVs for mpMRI could not be determined as only mpMRI-positive individuals were included.  When these researchers found a MicroUS target in a specific field, they did not take another non-targeted core from the same field in order to reduce the number of cores taken; thus, they could not compare with standard systematic biopsy and instead referred only to non-targeted biopsies.  MRI targets were taken by the FusionVu system included in ExactVu MicroUS machine; these investigators did not know whether this system differed in quality from their previous MRI-fusion systems.  However, other researchers have reported comparable findings.  The authors noted that their experience with the PRI-MUS rating system on MicroUS changed during the course of the study due to a learning curve.  Their analysis demonstrated the benefits of MicroUS with the potential to further improve MRI/US-guided targeted biopsy.  The real-time sampling of both MicroUS and mpMRI lesions showed increased diagnostic accuracy, while reducing the numbers of biopsy samples; thus, the potential exists to conduct only targeted biopsies (MRI and MicroUS), saving unnecessary systematic biopsies.  These researchers stated that prospective, multicenter analyses are needed for the analysis of inter-reader variability of the PRI-MUS scoring protocol.

In a prospective, single-center study, Lughezzani et al (2021) examined the accuracy of MicroUS for the diagnosis of csPCa within prospectively collected cohort of patients with a suspicion of PCa according to MRI.  A total of 320 consecutive patients with at least 1 Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) of greater than or equal to 3 lesions according to MRI were prospectively enrolled.  All patients received MicroUS prior to prostate biopsy using the ExactVu system; the PRI-MUS protocol was used to identify targets.  The urologists were blinded to MRI results until after the MicroUS targeting was completed.  All patients received both targeted (based on either MicroUS or MRI findings) and randomized biopsies.  The sensitivity and specificity of MicroUS to determine the presence of csPCa (defined as at least 1 core with a Gleason score greater than or equal to 7 PCa) were determined.  Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was fitted to determine the predictors of csPCa.  Clinically significant PCa was diagnosed in 116 (36.3 %) patients.  The sensitivity and NPV of MicroUS for csPCa diagnosis were 89.7 % and 81.5 %, while specificity and PPV were 26.0 % and 40.8 %, respectively.  A combination of MicroUS-targeted and randomized biopsies would allow diagnosing the same proportion of csPCa as that diagnosed by an approach combining MRI-targeted and randomized biopsies (n = 113; 97.4 %), with only 3 (2.6 %) csPCa cases diagnosed by a MicroUS-targeted and 3 (2.6 %) by an MRI-targeted approach.  In a logistic regression model, an increasing PRI-MUS score was an independent predictor of csPCa (p ≤ 0.005).  The main limitation of this study was represented by the fact that all patients had suspicious MRI.  The authors concluded that MicroUS is a promising imaging modality for targeted prostate biopsies; these findings suggested that a MicroUS-based biopsy strategy may be capable of diagnosing the great majority of cancers, while missing only few patients with csPCa.

The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks.  First, an observer bias may be present since all subjects included in this trial had suspicious MRI.  Although blinded to MRI lesion location, the 2 urologists may have been led to consider a higher number of MicroUS lesions as suspicious.  Furthermore, the inclusion of patients with suspicious MRI made it impossible to fully examine the diagnostic performance of MRI and to provide a comparison of the accuracy of the 2 diagnostic approaches.  Second, MRI results did not routinely undergo internal re-evaluation by the institutions’ radiologists and were performed with both 1.5- and 3.0-T scanners.  While this reflected common urological practice, it may lower the diagnostic performance of MRI in the study population.  Third, the number of randomized and targeted biopsy cores that were taken per patient was not standardized; thus, some cases of csPCa may have been missed in patients with fewer cores taken from both targeted and systematic biopsies.  Fourth, an ideal reference standard such as trans-perineal template mapping biopsies was not used; therefore, some cancers may have been missed.  Fifth, the interpretation of MicroUS is highly operator-dependent.  While all images and cine loops were systematically saved for a retrospective review, formal determination of the inter-observer agreement between different clinicians was not carried out.  However, it should be taken into consideration that both operators had similar experience with conventional TRUS and were novice in MicroUS.  Additionally, given the relatively low number of patients included, the impact of the learning curve on the diagnostic performance of MicroUS remains to be determined, and further studies are needed to examine how the operator’s experience may impact these results.

You et al (2022) compared the detection rate of MicroUS with that of mpMRI targeted biopsy (mpMRI-TB) for PCa diagnosis.  The studies on Micro-US prostate biopsy for PCa diagnosis were searched in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Embase databases from inception to April 2021.  These investigators carried out a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis based on search results using Software Rev-Man 5.3.  A total of 11 studies entailing 1,081 patients were included.  The meta-analysis showed that no significant difference was found between MicroUS and mpMRI-TB in the total detection of PCa (OR: 1.01, 95 % CI: 0.85 to 1.21, p = 0.89), of grading groups (GGs) = 1 (OR: 0.92, 95 % CI: 0.68 to 1.25, p = 0.59), of GGs greater than or equal to 2 (OR:1.01, 95 % CI: 0.83 to 1.22, p = 0.92), and of GGs greater than or equal to 3 (OR: 1.31, 95 % CI: 0.95 to 1.81, p = 0.10).  The authors concluded that MicroUS-guided prostate biopsy provided detection rates for PCa diagnosis comparable with those of the mpMRI-TB, which is expected to challenge mpMRI-TB in the diagnosis of PCa.

Gurwin et al (2022) presented the current role of US-based techniques in the diagnostic pathway of PCa.  With over-diagnosis and over-treatment of a clinically insignificant PCa over the past years, mpMRI started to be recommended for every patient suspected of PCa before performing a biopsy.  It enabled targeted sampling of the suspicious prostate regions, improving the accuracy of the traditional systematic biopsy.  However, mpMRI is associated with high costs, relatively low availability, long and separate procedure, or exposure to the contrast agent.  The novel US modalities, such as shear wave elastography (SWE), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), or high frequency MicroUS, may be capable of maintaining the performance of mpMRI without its limitations.  Moreover, the real-time lesion visualization during biopsy would significantly simplify the diagnostic process.  Another value of these new techniques is the ability to enhance the performance of mpMRI by creating the image fusion of multiple modalities.  Such models might be further analyzed by artificial intelligence (AI) to mark the regions of interest for investigators and aid in deciding regarding the biopsy indications.  The authors concluded that the dynamic development and promising results of new US-based techniques should encourage researchers to thoroughly study their use in prostate imaging.  These researchers stated that MicroUS offers higher resolution imaging compared to traditional TRUS and although data on its effectiveness are limited, this modality shows tremendous potential in cancer detection and guiding biopsies.

Panzone et al (2022) noted that TRUS has been an invaluable tool in the assessment of prostate size, anatomy and aiding in the diagnosis of PCa for many years.  Emerging techniques warrant an investigation into the effectiveness of TRUS, how it compares to new techniques, and options to increase the accuracy of PCa diagnosis.  To-date, TRUS is used to guide both transrectal and trans-perineal biopsy approaches with similar cancer detection rates, but lower rates of infection have been reported with the trans-perineal approach, while lower rates of urinary retention are often reported with the transrectal approach; mpMRI has substantial benefits for PCa diagnosis and triage such as lesion location, grading, and can be combined with TRUS to perform fusion biopsies targeting specific lesions.  MicroUS generates higher resolution images than traditional US.  The authors stated that MicorUS has shown potential for enhanced risk stratification and monitoring in a cost-effective manner.

Klotz et al (2022) noted that micro-ultrasound (MicroUS) is a novel US-based imaging modality that has showed the ability to visualize PCa.  Multi-parametric MRI/US (mpMRI/US) fusion has recognized advantages for the performance of prostate biopsy; however, it encompasses additional cost, time and technical expertise to performing prostate biopsy in comparison to conventional TRUS biopsy.  MicroUS may simplify and optimize this pathway.  The OPTIMUM Trial is a 3-arm RCT comparing MicroUS-guided biopsy with MRI/US fusion and MRI/MicroUS "contour-less" fusion.  This trial will examine if MicroUS alone, or in combination with mpMRI, would provide effective guidance during prostate biopsy for the detection of csPCa for biopsy naïve subjects.  A total of 1,200 subjects will be randomized.  The economic impact will be evaluated.  The rate of csPCa (defined as Grade Group 2 and above) in each arm will be compared.  The primary hypothesis is non-inferiority of csPCa rate between the MRI/US fusion arm and the MicroUS-only arm (including the blinded MicroUS-only portion of the MRI/MicroUS arm).  As a secondary objective, the csPCa rate between MRI/MicroUS fusion and MRI/US fusion arms will also be compared.  Other secondary objectives include the increase in rate of patients diagnosed with csPCa due to each type of sample (mpMRI targeted, MicroUS targeted, systematic), the NPV of each imaging modality, and a health economic analysis of the procedures in each arm.  The authors concluded that the OPTIMUM Trial is designed to examine if MicroUS can be used as an alternative to MRI/US fusion biopsy.  The trial will also examine the effectiveness of the simplified "contour-less" MRI/MicroUS fusion procedure.  The adoption of the MicroUS technique will increase the proportion of men who can benefit from modern imaging-centric diagnostic strategies, and may help reduce variability, complexity, waiting time and cost within the diagnostic pathway.

Dias and Ghai (2023) stated that PCa is the 2nd most common cancer in men.  Population screening using PSA blood test and DRE is recommended by the NCCN, European Association of urology (EAU) and other prominent clinical guidelines.  While MRI is the recommended initial test in men at risk for PCa, MicroUS is a novel high resolution US technology that has shown promise in PCa detection.  These researchers provided a narrative review of the studies to-date that have been carried out to examine the functionality and effectiveness of MicroUS within the patient care pathway for PCa.  A total of 13 relevant studies comparing detection of csPCa between MicroUS and mpMRI were selected.  A total of 4 studies referring to use of MicroUS for other indications were found.  Each study was examined for risk of bias and applicability using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS-2) tool.  The studies reviewed concluded that MicroUS detection rates for csPCa diagnosis were comparable to the detection rates of mpMRI-guided biopsy procedures.  While the available evidence indicates that MicroUS should replace conventional TRUS for prostate imaging and biopsy, it is still unclear whether MicroUS should be used on its own or in conjunction with mpMRI for augmenting PCa detection.  The ongoing OPTIMUM trial will provide evidence on how best to use this new technology.  These researchers stated that early data also suggested this flexible new imaging modality has a place in local staging and active surveillance of PCa as well as in bladder cancer staging.  These researchers stated that available evidence has demonstrated MicroUS to be a promising new technology with comparable cancer detection rates to mpMRI.  While MicroUS may enable detection of some lesions not identified on mpMRI, it may have some limitations in identifying disease in the anterior transition zone specially in glands with dense corpora amylacea.  Due to this, it may be best suited for use in conjunction with mpMRI; results of the multi-center OPTIMUM trial will provide evidence for best utilization of this technology.

Wang et al (2023) noted that MicroUS is a novel imaging technique that may visualize csPCa, including those missed by MRI, in real-time during prostate biopsy.  From September 2021 to January 2022, a total of 75 consecutive biopsy-naive men were entered into an observational cohort.  All men underwent an MRI /MicroUS fusion prostate biopsy, completed by a single surgeon using the ExactVU device.  At time of biopsy, each biopsy core was given a PRI-MUS score.  Anonymized data were entered into a RED Cap database.  Cancer detection stratified by Prostate Imaging-Reporting & Data System (PI-RADS ) and PRI-MUS score, and imaging modality was captured.  The primary outcome was the detection rate of csPCa in MicroUS-informed systematic biopsy cores, taken outside MRI-visible lesions, during MRI/MicroUS fusion prostate biopsy.  A median of three MRI-targeted and 12 MicroUS-informed systematic cores were taken per patient.  MRI/MicroUS biopsy detected PCa in 84 %, with csPCa detected in 52 %.  Of the 900 MicroUS-informed systematic cores, 105 cores were PRI-MUS of 3 or higher; and 795 cores were PRI-MUS of 2 or less.  csPCa was detected in 35 % of the PRI-MUS of 3 or higher cores compared to 10 % of the PRI-MUS of 2 or less cores (p < 0.0001).  Detection of csPCa varied by core type: 8 % of patients were diagnosed by MRI-targeted cores only, 38 % were diagnosed by MicroUS-informed systematic cores only, and 54 % were diagnosed by both.  The authors concluded that MicroUS-informed systematic biopsy may be a useful adjunct to MRI, with PRI-MUS of 3 or higher systematic cores having a 3.5-fold increased risk of csPCa compared to PRI-MUS of 2 0r less cores.  The authors stated that this study was limited by its retrospective design and lack of comparator using conventional US-guided systematic biopsies.  These limitations will be addressed in the ongoing OPTIMUM RCT, with its t3-arm design comparing MicroUS, MicroUS/mpMRI, and US/mpMRI fusion biopsies.

Rakauskas et al (2023) stated that high-resolution Micro-US is a novel precise imaging modality that allows targeted prostate biopsies and mpMRI fusion.  Its high resolution relying on a 29-MHz transducer allows real-time visualization of PCa lesions; this might overcome the inaccuracy of conventional MRI-US fusion biopsy strategies.  In a propensity score-matched study, these researchers compared cancer detection rates in patients who underwent trans-rectal (TR-B) versus trans-perineal (TP-B) MR-Micro-US fusion biopsy.  1:2 propensity score matching was carried out in 322 consecutive procedures: 56 TR-B and 266 TP-B.  All prostate biopsies were conducted using ExactVuTM Micro-US system with mpMRI image fusion.  Clinically significant disease was defined as grade group of 2 or higher.  The primary objective was to evaluate the detection of clinically significant disease according to access route.  The secondary outcomes were to compare the respective detection rates of random and targeted biopsies stratified per access route and to evaluate Micro-US for its potential added value.  A total of 47 men undergoing TR-B and 88 undergoing TP-B were matched for age, PSA, clinical stage, prostate volume, PIRADS score, number of mpMRI-visible lesions and indication to biopsy.  The detection rates of clinically significant and of any PCa did not differ between the 2 groups (45 % TR-B versus 42 % TP-B; p = 0.8, and 57 % TR-B versus 59 % TP-B; p = 0.9, respectively).  Detection rates also did not differ significantly between random (p = 0.4) and targeted biopsies (p = 0.7) stratified per access route.  Micro-US targeted biopsy detected 36 MRI-invisible lesions in 33 patients; 19 % of these lesions were positive for clinically significant disease.  Overall, Micro-US targeted biopsies upgraded 2 % of patients to clinically significant disease that would have been missed otherwise.  The authors concluded that MR-Micro-US-fusion TR-B and TP-B exhibited similar diagnostic yields in terms of detection rates of csPCa; and Micro-US targeted biopsy appeared to have an additional diagnostic value over systematic and MRI-targeted biopsies.

NCCN guidelines (2023) state that "Recently, the use of high-resolution micro-ultrasound has been compared to mpMRI and found to perform similarly for the detection of prostate cancer" [citing Klotz, et al., 2021]. 

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound-Targeted Prostate Biopsy

Zhang et al (2022) stated that conventional TRUS-guided prostate biopsy is the standard method for accurate diagnosis of PCa; however, the limitations of this technique in terms of missed diagnosis could not be ignored.  Based on previous studies, contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) may be able to more distinctly detect malignant lesions with increased micro-vessels.  In a meta-analysis, these researchers examined the compared CEUS-targeted with TRUS-guided systematic biopsy.  They carried out a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CNKI up to March, 2022 for the relevant published studies.  After data extraction and quality assessment, meta-analysis was conducted by means of the RevMan 5.3 software.  The results showed that the overall sensitivity was higher for CEUS targeted biopsy than systematic biopsy (p = 0.03), so was the accuracy (p = 0.03); however, significant heterogeneity and inconsistent results from certain subgroup analyses challenged the validity of the results.  Meanwhile, CEUS yielded a much higher sensitivity in patients with PSA level of 4 to 10 ng/ml (p = 0.007).  On the other hand, the positive rate of each core (p < 0.001) and the detection rate of clinically significant PCa (p = 0.006) were significantly improved using CEUS.  The authors concluded that CEUS showed the advantage of a higher detection rate of clinically significant PCa, which might provide more specific indications for subsequent treatment.  However, these researchers stated that further RCTs focusing on the accuracy of CEUS-targeted prostate biopsies are still needed.

The authors stated that this was the 1st meta-analysis to include a comprehensive search strategy that compared CEUS-targeted and the currently widely used systematic biopsy.  Moreover, these investigators acknowledged the inherent drawbacks of this study.  First, there is no standard procedure for CEUS-guided biopsies.  Significant variability probably existed across the involved studies with regard to the definition of suspicious lesions, the number of target cores, and the experiences of the radiologists who interpreted the images and the different facilities or agents used.  Second, the heterogeneity among the studies in the comparisons compelled these researchers to employ random-effect models.  Third, sensitivity and specificity were analyzed in this trial; however, the interference of missing diagnoses was not ruled out.  Fourth, the different designs of each study did not allow the authors to address an established conclusion, considering the inconsistent findings from subgroup analyses.

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