Prostate MRI quality improvement: a Roadmap from the ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is vital for prostate cancer diagnosis and management.
• Inconsistent image acquisition, interpretation, and reporting worldwide limit prostate MRI's clinical utility and affect patient outcomes.
• The European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) Prostate MRI Working Group identified the need for standardized practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a practical, three-step quality-improvement framework for standardizing and enhancing prostate MRI practices.
• To address the variability in prostate MRI quality and improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care.
• To provide a roadmap for consistent, reproducible, and patient-centered prostate cancer diagnosis using MRI.

Main Methods:

• The framework comprises three steps: 'Build it right' (technical excellence via PI-RADS standards, PI-QUAL score, artefact reduction).
• 'See it right' (interpretive excellence through training, quality assurance, and multidisciplinary collaboration).
• 'Improve and innovate' (continual refinement using AI, deep learning, and remote supervision).

Main Results:

• The proposed framework aims to standardize prostate MRI acquisition, interpretation, and quality assurance.
• Implementation of the framework is expected to enhance diagnostic confidence and improve the consistency of high-quality prostate cancer care.
• International implementation, benchmarking, and outcome validation are crucial next steps for global impact.

Conclusions:

• The three-step quality-improvement framework provides a structured approach to optimize prostate MRI practices.
• Standardizing prostate MRI is essential for accurate, reproducible, and patient-centered prostate cancer diagnosis and management.
• Adoption of this roadmap will help ensure prostate MRI consistently delivers on its promise in diverse healthcare settings.