A propensity score matched analysis of the effects of African American race on the characteristics of regions of interests detected by magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of African American (AA) race on the number, location, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score, cancer detection rate, and cancer upgrade rate of the regions of interest (ROI) discovered on mltiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) of the prostate.METHODS: We performed an institutional retrospective study of 592 patients who received a prostate mp-MRI. Number of ROI (1-4), their location, and PI-RADS score v2 were evaluated in a matched cohort of Caucasian and AA males. Propensity score matching was performed using the variables of age, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, and prostate volume. Comparisons utilized chi-square tests and P < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS: One hundred and twenty three AA patients were matched with an equal number of Caucasian men of similar characteristics. The AA population's median age was 63 years (57.3-69.3), median PSA 6.6 (4.6-12.1), and median prostate volume 55 ml (33-90.8). The Caucasian population's median age was 66.3 years (60.9-71.1), median PSA 5.4 (3.8-8), and median prostate volume 52.5 ml (33.2-83). The number of ROI was 2 or more in 24% of AA men and 12% of Caucasian men (P = 0.035), and 3 or more in 10% of AA and 2% of Caucasian men (P = 0.034). There was no significant difference in location, PI-RADS scores, cancer detection rate, and cancer upgrade rate of the ROI between the 2 groups.CONCLUSIONS: AA patients, as compared to Caucasian counterparts, have a higher number of ROI detected on prostate mp-MRI.