Current Status of MRI and PET in the NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a significant source of morbidity and mortality for men in the United States, with approximately 1 in 9 being diagnosed with PCa in their lifetime. The role of imaging in the evaluation of men with PCa has evolved and currently plays a central role in diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluation of recurrence. Appropriate use of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and MRI-guided transrectal ultrasound (MR-TRUS) biopsy increases the detection of clinically significant PCa while decreasing the detection of clinically insignificant PCa. This process may help patients with clinically insignificant PCa avoid the adverse effects of unnecessary therapy. In the setting of a known PCa, patients with low-grade disease can be observed using active surveillance, which often includes a combination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, serial mpMRI, and, if indicated, follow-up systematic and targeted TRUS-guided tissue sampling. mpMRI can provide important information in the posttreatment setting, but PET/CT is creating a paradigm shift in imaging standards for patients with locally recurrent and metastatic PCa. This article examines the strengths and limitations of mpMRI for initial PCa diagnosis, active surveillance, recurrent disease evaluation, and image-guided biopsies, and the use of PET/CT imaging in men with recurrent PCa. The goal of this review is to provide a rational basis for current NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for PCa as they pertain to the use of these advanced imaging modalities.
Submitted December 10, 2018; accepted for publication March 29, 2019.
Disclosures: Dr. Davis has disclosed that he is a consultant for Augmenix Inc. and has stock options in Pfizer Inc. Dr. Mynderse has disclosed that he receives grant/research support from Philips Healthcare Inc., and BioBot Surgical, Ltd., and is a scientific advisor for 3D Biopsy, Inc and Augmenix. Dr. Pugh has disclosed that he is a consultant for Augmenix. Dr. Lee has disclosed that he is a scientific advisor for and receives grant/research funding from Janssen. The remaining authors have disclosed that they have no financial interests, arrangement, affiliations, or commercial interests with the manufacturers of any products discussed in this article of their competitors.
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