Institutional Adoption and Apprenticeship of Fusion Targeted Prostate Biopsy: Does Experience Affect the Cancer Detection Rate?

Introduction: There are limited data on the learning curve of magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound (MRI/TRUS)-fusion targeted prostate biopsies (tBx).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate between an experienced urologist and novice resident performing tBx.

Methods: A total of 183 patients underwent tBx from 2012 to 2016 for a total of 518 tBx cores. Biopsies in this study were performed by an experienced urologist (investigator A) or a novice resident (investigator B). The outcome was the detection of PCa on tBx. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we estimated odds ratios for the detection of PCa. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance patients' baseline characteristics and compare detection rates of PCa. Before performance of tBx, all patients underwent MRI.

Results: On multivariable logistic regression analysis, investigator experience was associated with a higher odds of detection of PCa (OR = 1.003; 95% confidence interval 1.002-1.006, p = 0.037). After IPTW adjustment, there was no significant difference between the detection rate of investigator A (23%) and investigator B (32%; p = 0.457).

Conclusions: Data revealed a positive association between investigator experience and the odds of PCa detection, although there was no difference in the detection rates of the investigators.