Downgrading of Grade Group After Radical Prostatectomy: Comparison of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Fusion Biopsy and Standard 12-Core Biopsy

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with Grade group (GG) downgrading post-radical prostatectomy.

Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 536 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy from February 2014 to October 2015. We have analyzed the clinical, radiological, and pathologic factors associated with GG downgrading in final pathology. Downgrading was defined as those patients who downgraded from GG 3, 4, or 5 on biopsy to GG 1 or 2 on final pathology as well as patients who downgraded from GG 2 on biopsy to GG 1 on final pathology. Categorical values were compared with chi-square and Fischer's exact tests. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis were used for analysis of independent variables associated with GG downgrading.

Results: Ninety-three patients underwent fusion biopsy (FB) and 443 underwent the standard 12 core biopsy. Baseline clinical characteristics were similar between the 2 groups except for race (P = .009). Downgrading was observed in 76 patients (14.1%). Rate of downgrading was higher in the FB group (n = 22, 23.7% vs n = 54, 12.2%, P = .008). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, FB (OR:2.39, P = .004) and maximum percentage of core involvement (OR:1.01, P = .013) were associated with downgrading after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. After 1:2 propensity score matching, FB was still associated with an increased rate of downgrading (P = .034). Downgrading had no significant effect on pathologic outcome.

Conclusion: FB and maximum percentage of core involvement are the only factors associated with GG downgrading in final pathology. However, downgrading did not influence surgical outcome.