External validation of two mpMRI-risk calculators predicting risk of prostate cancer before biopsy.

Abstract

PurposeRisk calculators (RC) aim to improve prebiopsy risk stratification. Their latest versions now include multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) findings. For their implementation into clinical practice, critical external validations are needed.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the patient data of 554 men who underwent ultrasound-guided targeted and systematic prostate biopsies at 2 centers. We validated the mpMRI-RCs of Radtke et al. (RC-R) and Alberts et al. (RC-A), previously shown to predict prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant PCa (csPCa). We assessed these RCs’ prediction accuracy by analyzing the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve and evaluated their clinical utility using Decision Curve Analysis (DCA), including Net-Benefit and Net-Reduction curves.ResultsWe found that the Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) for predicting PCa was 0.681 [confidence interval (CI) 95% 0.635–0.727] for RC-A. The AUCs for predicting csPCa were 0.635 (CI 95% 0.583–0.686) for RC-A and 0.676 (CI 95% 0.627–0.725) for RC-R. For example, at a risk threshold of 12%, RC-A needs to assess 334 and RC-R 500 patients to detect one additional true positive PCa or csPCa patient, respectively. At the same risk threshold of 12%, RC-A only needs to assess 6 and RC-R 16 patients to detect one additional true negative PCa or csPCa patient.ConclusionThe mpMRI-RCs, RC-R and RC-A, are robust and valuable tools for patient counseling. Although they do not improve PCa and csPCa detection rates by a clinically meaningful margin, they aid in avoiding unnecessary prostate biopsies. Their implementation could reduce overdiagnosis and reduce PCa screening morbidity.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00345-022-04119-8.