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

Abstract 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 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.