Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:To describe contemporary management and outcomes of patients experiencing postoperative hemorrhage after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent minimally invasive radical prostatectomy at our institution between January 2010 and January 2017. Clinically significant hemorrhage was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin of ≥30% or 4 g/dL from preoperative to 4 or 14 hours postoperative measurement, receiving a blood transfusion within 30 days, or undergoing a secondary procedure to control bleeding. Patients were analyzed in 3 groups: (1) serially monitored only, (2) received a blood transfusion, and (3) underwent a secondary procedure. Outcomes included imaging studies performed, length of stay, emergency room visits, hospital readmissions, complication rates, and functional outcomes. RESULTS:Of 3749 men, 4% (151/3749) had clinically significant hemorrhage, 1.6% (60/3749) received a transfusion; 0.32% (12/3749) underwent a secondary procedure to control bleeding. In a 30-day composite outcome, increased healthcare utilization (emergency room visit, readmission, or Grade ≥3 complications), was seen in 25% of the serial monitoring group, 65% of the transfusion group, and 100% in the secondary procedure group. This rate in 3598 men without hemorrhage was 12.5%. One-year erectile function was poorest in men who underwent a secondary procedure. Urinary functional outcomes were similar in the 3 groups. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Most patients experiencing clinically significant hemorrhage will stabilize without transfusion, and a very small fraction require secondary intervention. Patients experiencing milder bleeding events utilized additional healthcare resources at approximately twice the rate of those who did not, warranting appropriate counseling and postoperative monitoring.

CONTEXT:Recent studies suggested that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by targeted biopsy ("MRI-stratified pathway") detects more clinically significant prostate cancers (csPCa) than the systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) pathway, but controversy persists. Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were recently published, enabling generation of higher-level evidence to evaluate this hypothesis. OBJECTIVE:To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing the detection rates of csPCa in the MRI-stratified pathway and the systematic TRUS-Bx pathway in patients with a suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION:PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched up to March 18, 2019. RCTs reporting csPCa detection rates of both pathways in patients with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer were included. Relative csPCa detection rates of the MRI-stratified pathway were pooled using random-effect model. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. A comparison of detection rates of clinically insignificant PCa (cisPCa) and any PCa was also performed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS:Nine RCTs (2908 patients) were included. The MRI-stratified pathway detected more csPCa than the TRUS-Bx pathway (relative detection rate 1.45 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.09-1.92] for all patients, and 1.42 [95% CI 1.02-1.97] and 1.60 [95% CI 1.01-2.54] for biopsy-naïve and prior negative biopsy patients, respectively). Detection rates were not significantly different between pathways for cisPCa (0.89 [95% CI 0.49-1.62]), but higher in the MRI-stratified pathway for the detection of any PCa (1.39 [95% CI 1.05-1.84]). CONCLUSIONS:The MRI-stratified pathway detected more csPCa than the systematic TRUS-guided biopsy pathway in men with a clinical suspicion of PCa, for both biopsy-naïve patients and those with prior negative biopsy. The detection rate of any PCa was higher in the MRI-stratified pathway, but not significantly different from that of cisPCa. PATIENT SUMMARY:Our meta-analysis of clinical trials shows that the magnetic resonance imaging-stratified pathway detects more clinically significant prostate cancers than the transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy pathway in men with a suspicion of prostate cancer.

Accurate tumor detection and establishment of disease extent are important for optimal management of prostate cancer. Disease stage, beginning with identification of the index prostate lesion, followed by primary tumor, lymph node, and distant metastasis evaluation, provide crucial clinical information that not only have prognostic and predictive value, but guide patient management. A wide array of radiological imaging modalities including ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging have been used for the purpose of prostate cancer staging with variable diagnostic performance. Especially, the last years have seen remarkable technological advances in magnetic resonance imaging technology, enabling referring clinicians and radiologists to obtain even more valuable data regarding staging of prostate cancer. Marked improvements have been seen in detection of the index prostate lesion and evaluation of extraprostatic extension while further improvements are still needed in identifying metastatic lymph nodes. Novel approaches such as whole-body MRI are emerging for more accurate and reproducible assessment of bone metastasis. Post-treatment assessment of prostate cancer using radiological imaging is a topic with rapidly changing clinical context and special consideration is needed for the biochemical setting, that is, the relatively high serum prostate-specific antigen levels in studies assessing the value of radiological imaging for post-treatment assessment and emerging therapeutic approaches such as early salvage radiation therapy. The scope of this review is to provide the reader insight into the various ways radiology contribute to staging of prostate cancer in the context of both primary staging and post-treatment assessment. The strengths and limitations of each imaging modality are highlighted as well as topics that warrant future research.

The management of advanced prostate cancer has changed substantially with the availability of multiple effective novel treatments, which has led to improved disease survival. In the era of personalized cancer treatments, more precise imaging may help physicians deliver better care. More accurate local staging and earlier detection of metastatic disease, accurate identification of oligometastatic disease, and optimal assessment of treatment response are areas where modern imaging is rapidly evolving and expanding. Next-generation imaging modalities, including whole-body MRI and molecular imaging with combined PET and CT and combined PET and MRI using novel radiopharmaceuticals, create new opportunities for imaging to support and refine management pathways in patients with advanced prostate cancer. This article demonstrates the potential and challenges of applying next-generation imaging to deliver the clinical promise of treatment breakthroughs.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for radiation therapy simulation is growing because of its ability to provide excellent delineation of target tissue and organs at risk. With the use of hypofractionated schemes in prostate cancer, urethral sparing is essential; however, visualization of the prostatic urethra can be challenging because of the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia as well as respiratory motion artifacts. The goal of this study was to compare the utility of 2 motion-insensitive, T2-weighted MRI pulse sequences for urethra visualization in the setting of MRI-based simulation. METHODS AND MATERIALS/METHODS:Twenty-two patients undergoing MRI simulation without Foley catheters were imaged on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner between October 2018 and January 2019. Sagittal multislice data were acquired using (1) MultiVane XD radial sampling with parallel imaging acceleration (MVXD) and (2) single-shot fast-spin-echo (SSFSE) sequences with acquisition times of 2 to 3 minutes per sequence. For each examination, 2 genitourinary radiologists scored prostatic urethra visibility on a 1-to-5 scale and rated the signal-to-noise ratio and the presence of artifacts in each series. RESULTS:Urethral visibility was scored higher in the MVXD series than in the SSFSE series in 18 of 22 cases (Reader 1) and 17 of 22 cases (Reader 2). The differences in scores between MVXD and SSFSE were statistically significant for both readers (P < .0001 for both, paired Student's t-test) and interobserver agreement was high (Cohen's kappa = 0.67). Both readers found the signal-to-noise ratio of the MVXD sequence to be superior in all cases. The MVXD sequence was found to generate more artifacts than the SSFSE sequence, but these tended to appear in the periphery and did not affect the ability to visualize the urethra. CONCLUSIONS:A radial T2-weighted multislice pulse sequence was superior to an SSFSE sequence for visualization of the urethra in the setting of magnetic resonance simulation for prostate cancer.

Pelvic masses can present a diagnostic challenge owing to the difficulty in assessing their origin and the overlap in imaging features. The majority of pelvic tumors arise from gastrointestinal or genitourinary organs, with less common sites of origin including the connective tissues, nerves, and lymphovascular structures. Lesion evaluation usually starts with clinical assessment followed by imaging, or the lesion may be an incidental finding at imaging performed for other clinical indications. Since accurate diagnosis is essential for optimal management, imaging is useful for suggesting the correct diagnosis or narrowing the differential possibilities and distinguishing tumors from their mimics. Some masses may require histologic confirmation of the diagnosis with biopsy and/or up-front surgical resection. In this case, imaging is essential for presurgical planning to assess mass size and location, evaluate the relationship to adjacent pelvic structures, and narrow differential possibilities. Pelvic US is often the first imaging modality performed in women with pelvic symptoms. While US is often useful to detect a pelvic mass, it has significant limitations in assessing masses located deep in the pelvis or near gas-filled organs. CT also has limited value in the pelvis owing to its inferior soft-tissue contrast. MRI is frequently the optimal imaging modality, as it offers both multiplanar capability and excellent soft-tissue contrast. This article highlights the normal anatomy of the pelvic spaces in the female pelvis and focuses on MRI features of common tumors and tumor mimics that arise in these spaces. It provides an interpretative algorithm for approaching an unknown pelvic lesion at MRI. It also discusses surgical management, emphasizing the value of MRI as a road map to surgery and highlighting anatomic locations where surgical resection may present a challenge. ^©RSNA, 2019.

BACKGROUND:Tailored neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) may improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine early MRI prognostic parameters with which to stratify neoadjuvant treatment in patients with LARC. METHODS:All patients from a prospective, phase II, multicentre randomized study (GRECCAR4; NCT01333709) were included, and underwent rectal MRI before treatment, 4 weeks after induction chemotherapy and after completion of chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Tumour volumetry, MRI tumour regression grade (mrTRG), T and N categories, circumferential resection margin (CRM) status and extramural vascular invasion identified by MRI (mrEMVI) were evaluated. RESULTS:A total of 133 randomized patients were analysed. Median follow-up was 41·4 (95 per cent c.i. 36·6 to 45·2) months. Thirty-one patients (23·3 per cent) developed tumour recurrence. In univariable analysis, mrEMVI at baseline was the only prognostic factor associated with poorer outcome (P = 0·015). After induction chemotherapy, a larger tumour volume on MRI (P = 0·019), tumour volume regression of 60 per cent or less (P = 0·002), involvement of the CRM (P = 0·037), mrEMVI (P = 0·026) and a poor mrTRG (P = 0·023) were associated with poor outcome. After completion of CRT, the absence of complete response on MRI (P = 0·004), mrEMVI (P = 0·038) and a poor mrTRG (P = 0·005) were associated with shorter disease-free survival. A final multivariable model including all significant variables (baseline, after induction, after CRT) revealed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (P = 0·011), sphincter involvement (P = 0·009), mrEMVI at baseline (P = 0·002) and early tumour volume regression of 60 per cent or less after induction (P = 0·007) were associated with relapse. CONCLUSION:Baseline and early post-treatment MRI parameters are associated with prognosis in LARC. Future preoperative treatment should stratify treatment according to baseline mrEMVI status and early tumour volume regression.

Prostate cancer is a very heterogeneous disease, and contemporary management is focused on identification and treatment of the prognostically adverse high-risk tumors while minimizing overtreatment of indolent, low-risk tumors. In recent years, imaging has gained increasing importance in the detection, staging, posttreatment assessment, and detection of recurrence of prostate cancer. Several imaging modalities including conventional and functional methods are used in different clinical scenarios with their very own advantages and limitations. This continuing medical education article provides an overview of available imaging modalities currently in use for prostate cancer followed by a more specific section on the value of these different imaging modalities in distinct clinical scenarios, ranging from initial diagnosis to advanced, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In addition to established imaging indications, we will highlight some potential future applications of contemporary imaging modalities in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE:To determine if the primary treatment approach (primary debulking surgery (PDS) versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS)) influences the pattern of first recurrence in patients with completely cytoreduced advanced high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective study included 178 patients with newly diagnosed stage IIIC-IV HGSOC, complete gross resection during PDS (n = 124) or IDS (n = 54) from January 2008-March 2013, and baseline and first recurrence contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. Clinical characteristics and number of disease sites at baseline were analyzed for associations with time to recurrence. In 135 patients who experienced recurrence, the overlap in disease locations between baseline and recurrence and the number of new disease locations at recurrence were analyzed according to the primary treatment approach. RESULTS:At univariate and multivariate analyses, NACT-IDS was associated with more overlapping locations between baseline and first recurrence (p ≤ 0.003) and fewer recurrences in new anatomic locations (p ≤ 0.043) compared with PDS. The same results were found in a subgroup that received intra-peritoneal adjuvant chemotherapy after either treatment approach. At univariate analysis, patient age, primary treatment approach, adjuvant chemotherapy route, and number of disease locations at baseline were associated with time to recurrence (p ≤ 0.009). At multivariate analysis, older patient age, NACT-IDS, and greater disease locations at baseline remained significant (p ≤ 0.018). CONCLUSION:The distribution of disease at the time of first recurrence varied with the choice of primary treatment. Compared to patients treated with PDS, patients who underwent NACT-IDS experienced recurrence more often in the same locations as the original disease.