Abstract
BACKGROUND: Biparametric MRI (bpMRI) has an important role in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa), by reducing the cost and duration of the procedure and adverse reactions. We assess the additional benefit of the ADC map in detecting prostate cancer (PCa). Additionally, we examine whether the ADC value correlates with the presence of clinically significant tumors (csPCa). METHODS: 104 peripheral lesions classified as PI-RADS v2.1 score 3 or 3+1 at the mpMRI underwent transperineal MRI/US fusion-guided targeted biopsy. RESULTS: The lesions were classified as PI-RADS 3 or 3+1; at histopathology, 30 were adenocarcinomas, 21 of which were classified as csPCa. The ADC threshold that maximized the Youden index in order to predict the presence of a tumor was 1103 (95% CI (990, 1243)), with a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.59; both values were greater than those found using the contrast medium, which were 0.5 and 0.54, respectively. Similar results were also found with csPCa, where the optimal ADC threshold was 1096 (95% CI (988, 1096)), with a sensitivity of 0.86 and specificity of 0.59, compared to 0.49 and 0.59 observed in the mpMRI. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the possible use of a quantitative parameter (ADC value) in the risk stratification of csPCa, by reducing the number of biopsies and, therefore, the number of unwarranted diagnoses of PCa and the risk of overtreatment.