SynthesisProstate cancer and prostatic diseases2026
Comparative diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric-MRI and Micro-ultrasound for clinically significant prostate cancer-a bivariate meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Synthesis in Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- From Detection to Surveillance: The Evolving Role of Micro-Ultrasound in Prostate Cancer.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Comparative Evaluation of Biological Techniques.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Data Quality Analyzer-Towards Optimal Radio-Frequency Frame Pair Selection for Ultrasound Elastography.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundProstate cancer (PCa) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men. While multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is an established tool for detecting clinically significant PCa (csPCa), it is limited by cost, access, and acquisition time. Micro-ultrasound (Micro-US) offers real-time imaging with potential advantages in accessibility and integration into routine care. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SR/MA) aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Micro-US versus mpMRI in detecting csPCa, based exclusively on prospective evidence.
methodsA protocol-registered SR/MA (INPLASY202540027) was conducted following PRISMA and PICOTT frameworks. Prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and March 2025 comparing micro-US and mpMRI for csPCa detection, using biopsy or prostatectomy specimens as reference standards, were included. Bivariate random-effects models were used to estimate pooled sensitivity, specificity, and summary ROC curves. Positive/negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) were calculated using pooled prevalence and literature-based prevalence values. Meta-regression assessed modality differences and potential effect modifiers.
resultsEight prospective studies (n = 2626 patients) met the inclusion criteria, 1 randomized controlled trial and 7 prospective cohorts. Micro-US demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 0.87 (95%CI: 0.80-0.92) and specificity of 0.25 (95% CI: 0.17-0.36), while mpMRI showed a sensitivity of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.93) and specificity of 0.30 (95% CI: 0.18-0.46). sROC confidence regions overlapped for both modalities. Meta-regression detected no significant difference in sensitivity (P = 0.72) but a significant difference in specificity favoring mpMRI (P = 0.003). PPVs were modest (0.41-0.46), and NPVs were high (0.72-0.80) across prevalence scenarios.
conclusionMicro-US demonstrates sensitivity comparable to mpMRI for csPCa screening before confirmatory biopsy, although mpMRI retains superior specificity. Micro-US may serve as an accessible alternative or complementary modality, but further high-quality prospective studies are needed to strengthen comparative evidence.
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