Current practice and perceptions of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and multiparametric ultrasound and prostatic biopsies for prostate cancer diagnosis in China: a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND

Recently, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) have been developed to improve prostate cancer (PCa) detection. This study aimed to investigate practice patterns and perceptions among clinicians regarding the use of mpMRI and mpUS as well as prostatic biopsies for PCa diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted a national survey via an online questionnaire among urologists, radiologists, and sonographers. The survey collected information on participants' knowledge, routine practices, and perceptions of prostate mpMRI and mpUS, as well as prostatic biopsies. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify specialists' characteristics associated with survey responses.

RESULTS

There were 354 responses from 144 hospitals were received. The majority (71.4%) of participants performed mpMRI for PCa diagnosis, while a small proportion (15.3%) of them used mpUS. The transperineal ultrasound-guided approach for systematic prostate biopsy was considered as preferable (47.2%). For targeted biopsy, cognitive fusion imaging (71.2%) and MRI-US fusion imaging (62.1%) were clearly favored. Compared with participants in community practices and from central-west region of China, those in academic practices and from east region of China were more likely to report utilization of mpMRI [odds ratio (OR) =2.08 and OR =0.19] and mpUS (OR =0.04 and OR =0.33) and recommendation of MRI targeted biopsy (OR =1.50 and OR =0.15) (P<0.05 in all).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of specialists perceived that mpMRI was routinely used, while only a small proportion of them reported the use of mpUS in clinical practice. Participants in academic practices and from east region of China had greater self-reported use of mpMRI and mpUS and recommendation of MRI targeted biopsy.