Limitations of Elastography Based Prostate Biopsy

Advanced strain elastography is a reliable approach for prostate cancer detection in patients with elevated PSA levels

This study aimed to examine the validity and reproducibility of strain elastography (SE) for detecting prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The study included 107 patients with elevated PSA levels. All eligible patients underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) with real-time elastography (RTE) to detect suspicious lesions. Two readers independently evaluated the lesions and assigned a strain ratio and elastography score to each lesion. Histopathology was used as a reference standard to estimate the validity of RTE in predicting malignant lesions. An intraclass correlation (ICC) was performed to detect reliability of the strain ratios and elastography scores. TRUS-guided biopsy detected malignancies in 64 (59.8%) patients. TRUS with RTE revealed 122 lesions. The strain ratio index (SRI) cut-off values to diagnose malignancy were 4.05 and 4.35, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 94.7%, 91.3%, and 93.4%, respectively. An elastography score > 3 was the best cut-off value for detecting malignancy. According to readers, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 91.3-94.7%, 89.5-93.4%, and 91.3-90.9%, respectively. Excellent inter-reader agreement was recorded for SRI and elastography scores, with ICC of 0.937 and 0.800, respectively. SE proves to be an efficient tool for detecting PCa with high accuracy in patients with elevated PSA levels.

Multiparametric ultrasound of prostate: role in prostate cancer diagnosis

Recent advances in ultrasonography (US) technology established modalities, such as Doppler-US, HistoScanning, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), elastography, and micro-ultrasound. The early results of these US modalities have been promising, although there are limitations including the need for specialized equipment, inconsistent results, lack of standardizations, and external validation. In this review, we identified studies evaluating multiparametric ultrasonography (mpUS), the combination of multiple US modalities, for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. In the past 5 years, a growing number of studies have shown that use of mpUS resulted in high PCa and clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) detection performance using radical prostatectomy histology as the reference standard. Recent studies have demonstrated the role mpUS in improving detection of CSPCa and guidance for prostate biopsy and therapy. Furthermore, some aspects including lower costs, real-time imaging, applicability for some patients who have contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and availability in the office setting are clear advantages of mpUS. Interobserver agreement of mpUS was overall low; however, this limitation can be improved using standardized and objective evaluation systems such as the machine learning model. Whether mpUS outperforms MRI is unclear. Multicenter randomized controlled trials directly comparing mpUS and multiparametric MRI are warranted.

Elastography Targeted Prostate Biopsy in Patients under Active Surveillance

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine elastography-based prostate biopsy in prostate cancer (PCa) patients under active surveillance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We relied on PCa patients who opted for active surveillance and underwent elastography targeted and systematic follow-up biopsy at the Braunschweig Prostate Cancer Center between October 2009 and February 2015. Each prostate sextant was considered as an individual case. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy (ACC) for elastography to predict follow-up biopsy results were analyzed, respectively, and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were carried out by using 2000 bootstrapping sample analyses.

RESULTS

Overall, 50 men and 300 sextants were identified. Overall, 27 (54%) men and 66 (22%) sextants harbored PCa at follow-up biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and ACC for elastography to predict follow-up biopsy results were: 19.7 (95% CI: 11.9-27.3), 86.8 (95% CI: 82.7-90.3), 29.6 (95% CI: 14.6-46.0), 79.3 (95% CI: 71.6-86.5), and 72.0% (95% CI: 65.7-78.3), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We recorded limited reliability of elastography-based prediction of follow-up biopsy results in active surveillance patients. Based on our analyses, we can neither recommend to rely exclusively on elastography-based targeted biopsies nor to delay or to omit follow-up biopsies based on elastography results during active surveillance.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound evaluation of the prostate before transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy can improve diagnostic sensitivity: A STARD-compliant article

To conduct a STARD-compliant validity that the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) evaluation of prostate for the improvement of positive rate of biopsy and diagnostic efficiency of prostate carcinoma (PCa).Data of 137 patients with suspected PCa who underwent relevant examinations and treatment were reviewed, and 82 of 137 patients were finally included. The patients consisted of Group 1 (26 patients) and Group 2 (42 patients) according to which they underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy selected from CEUS evaluation of the prostate and who underwent TRUS-guided biopsy directly. A systematic 12-core biopsy was performed at first, and additional 1 to 2 cores biopsy was made in the suspected target area where CEUS had showed abnormal enhancement. The assumed diagnoses were compared with pathological findings.There were 37 patients with PCa and 31 patients with benign lesions; and 14 patients without biopsy after CEUS did not find PCa emerging in follow-up (18-47 months). The positive rates of biopsy-malignant lesions were 73.1% and 42.8% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. The positive rate of biopsy in Group 1 was significantly higher than that in Group 2 (P = .024). The sensitivity and accuracy of TRUS biopsy and a combination of TRUS biopsy after transrectal CEUS for the evaluation of prostate benign and malignant lesion were 60% and 66.7% (P=0.0139), and 94.4% and 88.5% (P=0.0453), respectively.CEUS evaluation of the prostate of PSA-elevated patient before biopsy can help select target patient with high risk of PCa, reduce unnecessary biopsy, increase detection rate of PCa, and improve diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy.

Clinical Value of the Elastographic Q-Analysis Score in Assisting Real-Time Elastography-Guided Prostate Biopsy: A Retrospective Study of 125 Patients

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of the elastographic Q-analysis score (EQS) in assisting real-time elastography- and transrectal US-guided prostate biopsy.

METHODS

A total of 125 patients with 301 lesions were enrolled in this study; all were confirmed by pathologic results. The patients underwent transrectal US and elastographic examinations before biopsy. Elastographic Q-analysis score analysis software was used for measuring the mean EQS of the elastic images. First, the suspicious regions on elastography underwent biopsy. Then 12-core systematic prostate biopsy was performed. An EQS curve was used to calculate the mean EQS, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to find the cutoff point for the EQS to predict prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Of the 301 lesions in this study, 125 were malignant, and 176 were benign. The mean EQS values of benign and malignant lesions ± SD were 1.47 ± 0.75 and 2.98 ± 1.06, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < .05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87. When the cutoff point was 1.95 for diagnosing malignant and benign lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were 83.5%, 84.4%, 76.8%, 89.2%, 5.35, and 0.20.

CONCLUSIONS

The EQS could be used as a way to predict benign and malignant lesions and thus could serve as guidance for adding targeted biopsy.

Evaluation of the Performance of the Ultrasound (US) Elastographic Q-Analysis Score Combined With the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System for Malignancy Risk Stratification in Prostate Nodules Based on Transrectal US-Magnetic Resonance Imaging Fusion Imaging

OBJECTIVES

This study retrospectively evaluated the prognostic performance of the ultrasound elastographic Q-analysis score (EQS) combined with the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) for malignancy risk stratification in prostate nodules based on transrectal ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging fusion imaging.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients who were suspected to have PCa between October 2017 and May 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. The performance of the EQS and PI-RADS was evaluated by patients' receiver operating characteristic curves in differentiating malignant and benign prostate nodules. The combination of the EQS and PI-RADS methods for prostate imaging was evaluated.

RESULTS

Sixty-two prostate nodules in 62 patients were included. All of the patients underwent biopsy; 29 cases were prostate cancer, and the rest were benign prostate lesions. Both the EQS and PI-RADS were significantly higher in malignant nodules than in benign nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Youden index of an EQS cutoff of 2.05 were 86.2%, 81.8%, 85.9%, 4.73, 0.169, 80.6%, 87.1%, and 68%, respectively. The corresponding numbers for a PI-RADS cutoff of 4 were 82.7%, 69.7%, 84.2%, 2.72, 0.25, 70.6%, 82.1%, and 52.4%. The "tandem" method had a higher diagnostic specificity (87.9%), positive likelihood ratio (6.55), and positive predictive value (85.1%). The "parallel" method had a higher diagnostic sensitivity (96.5%), negative likelihood ratio (0.06), and negative predictive value (95.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

both the EQS and PI-RADS had good diagnostic performance in differentiating between malignant and benign prostate lesions. The combination of the EQS and PI-RADS improved the diagnostic performance to a certain degree.

RETRACTED: Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l’AFU – Actualisation 2018–2020 : cancer de la prostate French ccAFU guidelines – Update 2018–2020: Prostate cancer

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). Cet article est retiré de la publication à la demande des auteurs car ils ont apporté des modifications significatives sur des points scientifiques après la publication de la première version des recommandations. Le nouvel article est disponible à cette adresse: DOI:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.007. C’est cette nouvelle version qui doit être utilisée pour citer l’article. This article has been retracted at the request of the authors, as it is not based on the definitive version of the text because some scientific data has been corrected since the first issue was published. The replacement has been published at the DOI:10.1016/j.purol.2019.01.007. That newer version of the text should be used when citing the article.

Imaging for the selection and monitoring of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer

Traditional prostate imaging is fairly limited, and only a few imaging modalities have been used for this purpose. Until today, grey scale ultrasound was the most widely used method for the characterization of the prostatic gland, however its limitations for prostate cancer (PCa) detection are well known and hence ultrasound is primarily used to localize the prostate and facilitate template prostate biopsies. In the past decade, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate has emerged as a promising tool for the detection of PCa. Evidence has shown the value of mpMRI in the active surveillance (AS) population, given its ability to detect more aggressive disease, with data building up and supporting its use for the selection of patients suitable for surveillance. Additionally, mpMRI targeted biopsies have shown an improved detection rate of aggressive PCa when compared to regular transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsies. Current data supports the use of mpMRI in patients considered for AS for reclassification purposes; with a negative mpMRI indicating a decreased risk of reclassification. However, a percentage of patients with negative imaging or low suspicion lesions can experience reclassification, highlighting the importance of repeat confirmatory biopsy regardless of mpMRI findings. At present, no robust data is available to recommend the substitution of regular biopsies with mpMRI in the follow-up of patients on AS and efforts are being made to determine the role of integrating genomic markers with imaging with the objective of minimizing the need of biopsies during the follow up period.

Shear-Wave Elastography for Detection of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Diagnostic Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to review the diagnostic performance of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched up to December 23, 2016. We included diagnostic accuracy studies that used SWE for PCa detection with prostatectomy or biopsy used as the reference standard. The methodologic quality of the studies was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. The sensitivity and specificity of all studies were calculated. Results were pooled and plotted in a hierarchical summary ROC plot with further exploration done using meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

Eight studies (a total of 1028 patients) were evaluated. The pooled sensitivity was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.66-0.92) with a specificity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.78-0.90) for the detection of PCa. Study design (prospective vs retrospective) was the only significant factor affecting heterogeneity (p < 0.01). At subgroup analysis, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.64-0.94) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76-0.90), respectively, in studies using shear-wave speed imaging and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.64-0.94) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91), respectively, in studies based on per-lesion analysis.

CONCLUSION

SWE shows good performance for the detection of PCa. However, specific recommendations regarding cutoff value cannot be made because of study heterogeneity.

[CCAFU french national guidelines 2016-2018 on prostate cancer]

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the guidelines national committee CCAFU was to propose updated french guidelines for localized and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS

A Medline search was achieved between 2013 and 2016, as regards diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of PCa, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence.

RESULTS

Epidemiology, classification, staging systems, diagnostic evaluation are reported. Disease management options are detailed. Recommandations are reported according to the different clinical situations. Active surveillance is a major option in low risk PCa. Radical prostatectomy remains a standard of care of localized PCa. The three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is the technical standard. A dose of > 74Gy is recommended. Moderate hypofractionation provides short-term biochemical control comparable to conventional fractionation. In case of intermediate risk PCa, radiotherapy can be combined with short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In case of high risk disease, long-term ADT remains the standard of care. ADT is the backbone therapy of metastatic disease. In men with metastases at first presentation, upfront chemotherapy combined with ADT should be considered as a new standard. In case of metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC), new hormonal treatments and chemotherapy provide a better control of tumor progression and increase survival.

CONCLUSIONS

These updated french guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for the diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer. © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The standards of an ultrasound examination of the prostate gland. Part 2

The paper discusses the rules of the proper performing of the ultrasound examination of the prostate gland. It has been divided into two parts: the general part and the detailed part. The first part presents the necessary requirements related to the ultrasound equipment needed for performing transabdominal and transrectal examinations of the prostate gland. The second part presents the application of the ultrasound examination in benign prostatic hyperplasia, in cases of prostate inflammation and in prostate cancer. Ultrasound examinations applied in the diagnostics of benign prostatic hyperplasia accelerated the diagnosis, facilitated the qualification to surgery and the selection of the treatment method. The assessment of the size of the prostate gland performed using the endorectal ultrasound examination is helpful in making the choice between transurethral electroresection and adenomectomy. In prostate inflammation this examination should be performed with particular gentleness due to pain ailments. The indication for performing the examination in acute inflammation is the suspicion of prostate abscess. In chronic, exacerbating prostatitis it is possible to perform an intraprostatic antibiotic injection. In the recent years increased morbidity and detectability of prostate gland cancer is observed among men. In Poland it ranks second (13%) among diseases occurring in men. The indication for an endorectal examination is the necessity to assess the size of the prostate gland, its configuration, the echostructure in classical ultrasonography, the vascularization in an ultrasound examination performed with power doppler and, if possible, the differences in the gland tissue firmness (consistency) in elastography. The ultrasound examination is used for performing the mapping biopsy of the prostate gland - from routine, strictly defined locations, the targeted biopsy - from locations suspected of neoplastic proliferation and the staging biopsy - from the neurovascular bundles, the seminal vesicles, from the apex of the prostate and from the periprostatic tissue - this type of biopsy is supposed to help in determining local staging of the neoplastic disease. The ultrasound examination is also helpful during the treatment of the neoplasm performed using brachytherapy or using the method of ultrasonic ablation which is still in the phase of clinical trials.