Multiparametric MRI and prostate cancer diagnosis and risk stratification

Prostate cancer is the most common solid organ cancer type among American men. Screening and imaging aim to detect early-stage disease that is biologically aggressive. The focus of this study is to review multiparametric MRI in the detection and risk stratification of prostate cancer.

MP-MRI has been shown to be the most accurate noninvasive technique to localize prostate cancer. Recent studies reported that using MRI for guidance during prostate biopsies increases the yield of prostate biopsies. Moreover, multiparametric and particular MRI sequences such as apparent diffusion coefficient values of diffusion-weighted MRI have been found to correlate negatively with tumor Gleason scores.

Among the existing imaging modalities, multiplanar magnetic resonance is the best at detecting prostate cancers. Some risk stratification is possible based on size, extent and apparent diffusion coefficient values. However, prostate MRI remains nonspecific and biopsies must be performed to confirm whether an abnormality is benign or malignant and to assign Gleason scores.