MRI suspicious lesions in patients under active surveillance: Do systematic biopsies still add value?

Active surveillance (AS) requires regular monitoring to detect disease progression. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and targeted biopsies are commonly used to identify clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) in AS patients, yet their diagnostic value remains unclear among this population.

We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent mpMRI followed by combined prostate biopsies between 2017 and 2022. Patients were categorized into AS and non-AS groups. We compared the diagnostic yield of mpMRI suspicious Prostate Imaging-Reporting & Data System (PI-RADS) 3-5 lesions using comparisons of PI-RADS score distribution and detection rates of csPC from targeted biopsies between the groups. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between AS category and outcomes. csPC detection rates of targeted and combined biopsies were assessed as well.

The study consisted of 600 patients, 158 in the AS group and 442 in the non-AS group. PI-RADS scores distribution and the number of suspicious lesions were similar between AS and non-AS groups. csPC detection rates from targeted biopsies were not different between AS and non-AS patients (32% vs. 30%, p=0.68), and AS was also not associated with the rates of csPC for each PI-RADS score. The addition of systematic biopsies did not increase csPC detection in AS patients (36% vs. 32%, p=0.47).

Our findings suggest that mpMRI suspicious PI-RADS 3-5 lesions are reliable for csPC diagnosis during AS, and that targeted biopsies alone may be sufficient for its detection; however, further prospective research is needed to validate these results and optimize biopsy strategies within AS protocols.