Sensitivity of multiparametric MRI and targeted biopsy for detection of adverse pathologies (Cribriform gleason pattern 4 and intraductal carcinoma): Correlation of detected and missed prostate cancer foci with whole mount histopathology

Purpose Accurate preoperative detection of prostate cancer (PCa) exhibiting “cribriform” morphology (intraductal carcinoma [IDC-P] or cribriform Gleason pattern 4 [CrP4]) is important as it is independently associated with a variety of adverse clinical outcomes. The sensitivity of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in the detection of PCa exhibiting “cribriform” morphology remains controversial. Materials and Methods A total of 117 eligible men with prospectively reported mpMRI who underwent in-bore MRI targeted biopsy followed by whole-mount radical prostatectomy (RP) were analyzed for lesion-level imaging-pathology correlation. Results Of the 206 PCa foci at RP (117 index and 89 non-index), 74% (152/206) were detected by mpMRI. Of the 54 tumors missed by mpMRI, most were non-index (98%, 53/54), grade group (GG) 1 (68%, 37/54) or GG 2 (26%, 14/54), with a median size of 1.0 cm (range, 0.7-1.5 cm), and non-cribriform morphology (96%, 52/54). Cribriform morphology was detected in 26% (53/206) of all tumors, and although targeted biopsies identified 96% (51/53) of these cancers, the cribriform component was depicted in only 45% (24/53). Of these, mpMRI detected all (100%, 44/44) index and 78% (7/9) of the non-index tumors. At univariable analysis, tumor size greater than 5 mm, % pattern 4 > 5%, cribriform morphology, zone (transition versus peripheral zone), and region (apex versus mid/base) were significantly associated with tumor visibility at mpMRI. At multivariable analysis, only tumor size, presence of any pattern 4, and peripheral zone remained significant predictors for visibility by mpMRI. Conclusion At a lesion level, mpMRI offers high sensitivity for the detection of cribriform morphologies, however, the cribriform component is frequently missed by targeted biopsies. The MRI visibility is significantly associated with larger tumor size, presence of Gleason pattern 4, and peripheral zone location.