Application of hologram technology combined with 3D printing in transperineal prostate biopsy

Accurate localization of lesions during prostate biopsy is crucial for diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of integrating hologram technology with three-dimensional (3D) printing for transperineal prostate biopsy.

In this retrospective observational study conducted between November 2022 and December 2023, clinical data from 10 patients at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou University, who underwent ultrasound-guided transperineal prostate targeted plus systematic biopsy followed by radical prostatectomy, were analyzed. Each patient received transperineal targeted plus systematic biopsy before radical surgery, and a second biopsy of the isolated prostate after surgery, guided by hologram and 3D-printed models. Outcomes compared between the two biopsies included positive core rate, false-negative rate of targeted biopsy, tissue fragmentation, core length, cancer involvement, and Gleason score upgrading. The accuracy of hologram-based lesion models was validated against whole-organ large tissue sections.

Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between preoperative transperineal biopsies and postoperative isolated prostate biopsies in positive core rate, false-negative rate of targeted biopsy, and cancer involvement. No significant differences were found in tissue fragmentation, core length, or Gleason score upgrading between the two biopsy methods. No missed diagnoses were detected when hologram-based lesion models were compared with large tissue sections. No serious complications occurred in any of the 10 patients after biopsy or radical prostatectomy.

Hologram-based lesion models provide reliable tumor localization. With hologram assistance, transperineal prostate biopsy demonstrates higher accuracy, lower false-negative rates, and greater cancer detection in biopsy cores.