Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41827718›Full record

ReviewCancers2026

Radiomics-Based Characterization of Aggressive Prostate Cancer Variants: Diagnostic Challenges and Opportunities.

Katarzyna Sklinda, Martyna Rajca, Marek Kasprowicz, Łukasz Michałowski, Michał Małek, Bartłomiej Olczak, Jerzy Walecki

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Katarzyna SklindaCentre of Radiological Diagnostics, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.
Martyna RajcaCentre of Radiological Diagnostics, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0009-0003-5553-3680
Marek KasprowiczClinical Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.
Łukasz MichałowskiDepartment of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawińskiego, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-3429-4337
Michał MałekClinical Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.
Bartłomiej OlczakClinical Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-6505-5369
Jerzy WaleckiCentre of Radiological Diagnostics, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesAggressive variants of prostate cancer pose significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges due to atypical imaging appearances, variable prostate-specific antigen behavior, and distinct molecular features. Conventional imaging may underestimate their biological aggressiveness. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on imaging characteristics, biomarker dynamics, tumor localization, histology, and radiomic features of aggressive prostate cancer variants, and to evaluate the potential role of radiomics in early recognition and risk stratification.

methodsA structured narrative review was performed of studies reporting imaging, clinical, and molecular features of aggressive prostate cancer variants. Imaging modalities included multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography with prostate-specific membrane antigen or fluorodeoxyglucose, bone scintigraphy, and transrectal ultrasound. Data on prostate-specific antigen levels and kinetics, intraprostatic tumor location, tumor size, metastatic patterns, and molecular alterations were extracted. Evidence for rare entities such as basaloid and primary squamous carcinomas was derived from published case reports and series, while selected variants were complemented by institutional imaging and histopathologic observations.

resultsNeuroendocrine and small cell carcinomas frequently showed low prostate-specific antigen levels, high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, low prostate-specific membrane antigen expression, and central or transitional zone involvement with large tumor size at diagnosis. Ductal adenocarcinoma demonstrated marked diffusion restriction and elevated prostate-specific antigen, whereas basal cell carcinoma often appeared inconspicuous on conventional imaging. Radiomic analysis consistently captured tumor heterogeneity and spatial complexity beyond standard qualitative metrics.

conclusionsAggressive prostate cancer variants represent a diagnostic blind spot in routine imaging. Radiomics offers complementary quantitative information that may improve early detection, subtype differentiation, and risk stratification when integrated into multimodal imaging workflows. Further prospective and radiogenomic studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Indexed as

aggressive prostate cancer variantsductal adenocarcinomaGleason pattern 5imaging biomarkersmultiparametric MRIneuroendocrine prostate cancerradiomicsreviewsmall cell carcinomatumor heterogeneity

Identifiers

PMID41827718
PMCPMC12985191

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.