Segment-based comparison of multiparametric MRI, Gallium-68-PSMA-PET/CT and combined imaging with histopathology in prostate cancer
In brief
Combining prostate MRI and PSMA PET detected cancer in 79% of segments
In 97 men who underwent prostate removal, combined MRI and PSMA PET detected cancer in 79% of prostate segments, compared with 74% for MRI and 72% for PET alone. Combining scans raised sensitivity to 25.8%, but it remained limited, and specificity fell to 90.5%; how well these results apply beyond this surgical cohort remains unclear.
- Journal
- BJU international (Q1)
- Published
- 18 October 2026
- Study design
- Non-randomized / quasi-experimental trial
- Evidence level
- Level 2, Moderate (CEBM 2b)
- Authors
- Clarissa J Schmidt, Marit Bernhardt, Glen Kristiansen, Florian C Gaertner, Barbara Kreppel, Markus Essler, et al.
- PMID
- 42893832
- DOI
- 10.1111/bju.70497
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Medical Physics and Imaging (paper of the day, 19 October 2026): High-quality evidence in a top journal
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the segment-based diagnostic performance of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), Gallium-68-prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT), for detecting histopathologically confirmed prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This analysis included 97 men from the prospective, interventional, phase II DEPROMP (DEtection rate of clinically significant PROstate cancer by mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT fusion biopsy) trial who underwent radical prostatectomy with whole-mount histopathological evaluation. All participants received mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT prior to biopsy. The mpMRI was interpreted according to Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version(v)2.1, and PSMA-PET/CT according to Prostate Cancer Molecular Imaging Standardised Evaluation (PROMISE) molecular imaging Tumour-Node-Metastasis (miTNM) criteria. The prostate was divided into 36 anatomical segments based on the PI-RADS v2.1 sector map. Each segment was correlated with histopathological findings from prostatectomy specimens. For each imaging modality, detection rates, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated at the segment level. RESULTS: A total of 3492 prostate segments were analysed. Detection rates were 74.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72.6-75.5) for mpMRI, 72.2% (95% CI 70.6-73.6) for PSMA-PET/CT, and 79.1% (95% CI 77.7-80.4) for the combined use of mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT. Sensitivity and specificity were 13.4% and 97.3% for mpMRI, 18.5% and 92.7% for PSMA-PET/CT, and 25.8% and 90.5% for combined mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT, respectively. Threshold-based receiver operating characteristic analyses yielded an AUC of 0.62 (95% CI 0.54-0.69) for PI-RADS, 0.68 (95% CI 0.63-0.74) for maximum standardised uptake value, and 0.69 (95% CI 0.65-0.74) for molecular imaging PSMA. CONCLUSION: At the segment level, mpMRI and PSMA-PET/CT showed comparable diagnostic accuracy with high specificity but limited sensitivity. Their combination improved sensitivity and overall detection performance, underscoring the complementary value of structural and molecular imaging for lesion localisation and precision management in PCa.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
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