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Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Use of MRI-ultrasound Fusion to Achieve Targeted Prostate Biopsy
Published on: April 9, 2019
Should Targeted Biopsy be Performed in Patients Who Have Only Pi-rads 3 Lesions?
Murat Yavuz Koparal1, Tevfik Sinan Sözen2, Nejdet Karşiyakali3
1Department of Urology, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital Rize, Turkey.
Objective:
To determine whether clinical or radiological parameters can predict clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) in patients with the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3 lesions.
Patients And Methods:
Data were obtained from 247 patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions on mpMRI and who had received a software guided transperineal/transrectal MRI/transrectal ultrasonography (MRI/TRUS) fusion prostate biopsy with concomitant standard systematic 12-core biopsy following mpMRI in the prostate cancer and prostate biopsy database of Turkish Urooncology Association, between 2016 and 2020. The cut-off values of clinical parameters were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the clinical parameters in predicting csPC.
Results:
A total of 56 patients (22.6%) had prostate cancer, 23 (9.3%) of whom had csPC. In the lesion- based analysis, cancer detection rates (CDRs) of each lesion in targeted biopsy were found to be 6% and 5% for ISUP GG 1 and ISUP GG ≥ 2, respectively. In the patient-based analysis, clinically insignificant CDRs were significantly higher in systematic biopsy compared with targeted biopsy, whereas no significant difference was found in terms of clinically significant CDRs (p = 0.020 and p=0.422, respectively). The cut-off values were determined as 48.3 mL (AUC [95% CI] = 0.68 [0.53-0.82]) for prostate volume, and 0.213 ng/mL/mL (AUC [95% CI] = 0.64 (0.51-0.77]) for PSAD in predicting csPC. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, only PSAD was found to be an independent risk factor in predicting csPC (OR [95% CI]: 3.56 [1.15-10.91], p = 0.024).
Conclusion:
Since PSAD > 0.20 ng/mL/mL was found to be positive independent risk factor in predicting csPC, in the absence of advanced radiological parameters, PSAD could be used for the biopsy decision in patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions.
Insights
Prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) can help predict clinically significant prostate cancer in patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions. A PSAD cutoff of 0.20 ng/mL/mL is a key indicator for biopsy decisions when advanced imaging is unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Prostate cancer diagnosis relies on accurate risk stratification.
- Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3 lesions present diagnostic challenges.
- Predicting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) in PI-RADS 3 cases is crucial for appropriate management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate clinical and radiological parameters for predicting csPC in patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions.
- To identify reliable predictors for csPC in this specific patient cohort.
- To inform biopsy decisions for PI-RADS 3 lesions based on predictive factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 247 patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions undergoing MRI/TRUS fusion and systematic biopsy.
- Utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine clinical parameter cut-off values.
- Employed logistic regression analyses to identify independent predictors of csPC.
Main Results:
- 22.6% of patients had prostate cancer, with 9.3% having csPC.
- Prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) were evaluated as predictors.
- PSAD > 0.213 ng/mL/mL was identified as an independent risk factor for csPC (OR: 3.56).
Conclusions:
- PSAD is a significant independent predictor of csPC in patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions.
- A PSAD cutoff of 0.20 ng/mL/mL can guide biopsy decisions when advanced radiological parameters are not available.
- This finding aids in optimizing the diagnostic pathway for PI-RADS 3 prostate lesions.

