Reliable Visualization of the Treatment Effect of Transperineal Focal Laser Ablation in Prostate Cancer Patients by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Transperineal focal laser ablation (TPLA) treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) is an experimental focal ablative therapy modality with low morbidity. However, a dosimetry model for TPLA is lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To determine (1) the three-dimensional (3D) histologically defined ablation zone of single- and multifiber TPLA treatment for PCa correlated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and (2) a reliable imaging modality of ablation zone volumetry.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective, multicenter, and interventional phase I/II pilot study with an ablate-and-resect design. TPLA was performed in 12 patients with localized prostate cancer divided over four treatment regimens to evaluate potential variation in outcomes.

INTERVENTION: TPLA was performed approximately 4 wk prior to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in a daycare setting using local anesthesia.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Four weeks after TPLA, ablation zone volumetry was determined on prostate MRI and CEUS by delineation and segmentation into 3D models and correlated with whole-mount RARP histology using the Pearson correlation index.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Twelve office-based TPLA procedures were performed successfully under continuous transrectal ultrasound guidance using local perineal anesthesia. No serious adverse events occurred. A qualitative analysis showed a clear demarcation of the ablation zone on T2-weighted MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and CEUS. On pathological evaluation, no remnant cancer was observed within the ablation zone. Ablation zone volumetry on CEUS and T2-weighted MRI compared with histology had a Pearson correlation index of r  = 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.99, p  < 0.001) and r  = 0.93 (95% CI 0.73-0.98, p  < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: CEUS and prostate MRI could reliably visualize TPLA ablative effects after minimally invasive PCa treatment with a high concordance with histopathological findings and showed no remnant cancer.

PATIENT SUMMARY: The treatment effects of a novel minimally invasive ablation therapy device can reliably be visualized with radiological examinations. These results will improve planning and performance of future procedures.