Prostate MRI quality improvement: a Roadmap from the ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group

Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a crucial tool in diagnosing and managing prostate cancer, mainly by helping to avoid unnecessary biopsies and enhancing the detection of clinically significant disease. However, its clinical usefulness is often limited by wide variation in how images are acquired, interpreted, and reported worldwide. This inconsistency affects diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. In response, the Quality Improvement Subgroup of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) Prostate MRI Working Group has created a practical, three-step quality-improvement framework aimed at standardising and improving prostate MRI practices. This framework consists of: Step 1: 'Build it right', establishing a foundation of technical excellence through adherence to the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) technical standards, objective quality assessment using the Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) score, and systematic artefact reduction. Step 2: 'See it right', emphasising interpretive excellence via structured training, institutional quality assurance metrics, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Step 3: 'Improve and innovate', promoting continual refinement through emerging technologies such as AI-driven assessment, deep learning reconstruction, and remote supervision. By incorporating this structured approach into daily practice, this framework aims to ensure that prostate MRI consistently fulfils its promise of accurate, reproducible, and patient-centred care. A coordinated effort towards international implementation, benchmarking, and outcome-based validation represents the next critical step to maximise global impact. KEY POINTS: Question Wide variation in prostate MRI acquisition, image quality, and reporting undermines diagnostic accuracy. A structured roadmap is needed to ensure consistent quality and reproducible practice. Findings The ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group outlines a three-step framework - 'Build it right', 'See it right', 'Improve and innovate' - to standardise acquisition, interpretation, and quality assurance. Clinical relevance Applying this roadmap in clinical practice aims to enhance diagnostic confidence and promote consistent, high-quality prostate cancer care across diverse healthcare settings.

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Publication Details

Journal
European Radiology
Published
2026-03-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-026-12395-w
Primary Topic
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Type
article
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article

Prostate MRI quality improvement: a Roadmap from the ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group

Geert Villeirs, Caterina Gaudiano, Daniel Junker, Jonathan Richenberg et al.
European Radiology
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
article

Prostate MRI quality improvement: a Roadmap from the ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group

Geert Villeirs, Caterina Gaudiano, Daniel Junker, Jonathan Richenberg, Johannes Uhlig, Ronaldo Hueb Baroni, Rossano Girometti, Rajan T. Gupta, Andrei S. Purysko, G Kukuk, Ana Sofia L. Moreira, Jelle Barentsz, Hanna Falińska, Francesco Giganti, Clare Allen, Fredrik Jäderling, on behalf of the ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group, Stephan Ursprung, Adriano B. Dias, Philippe Puech, Vibeke Løgager
article en

Abstract

Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a crucial tool in diagnosing and managing prostate cancer, mainly by helping to avoid unnecessary biopsies and enhancing the detection of clinically significant disease. However, its clinical usefulness is often limited by wide variation in how images are acquired, interpreted, and reported worldwide. This inconsistency affects diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. In response, the Quality Improvement Subgroup of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) Prostate MRI Working Group has created a practical, three-step quality-improvement framework aimed at standardising and improving prostate MRI practices. This framework consists of: Step 1: 'Build it right', establishing a foundation of technical excellence through adherence to the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) technical standards, objective quality assessment using the Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) score, and systematic artefact reduction. Step 2: 'See it right', emphasising interpretive excellence via structured training, institutional quality assurance metrics, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Step 3: 'Improve and innovate', promoting continual refinement through emerging technologies such as AI-driven assessment, deep learning reconstruction, and remote supervision. By incorporating this structured approach into daily practice, this framework aims to ensure that prostate MRI consistently fulfils its promise of accurate, reproducible, and patient-centred care. A coordinated effort towards international implementation, benchmarking, and outcome-based validation represents the next critical step to maximise global impact. KEY POINTS: Question Wide variation in prostate MRI acquisition, image quality, and reporting undermines diagnostic accuracy. A structured roadmap is needed to ensure consistent quality and reproducible practice. Findings The ESUR Prostate MRI Working Group outlines a three-step framework - 'Build it right', 'See it right', 'Improve and innovate' - to standardise acquisition, interpretation, and quality assurance. Clinical relevance Applying this roadmap in clinical practice aims to enhance diagnostic confidence and promote consistent, high-quality prostate cancer care across diverse healthcare settings.

European Radiology
National Academy of Medicine (US), University of Udine (IT), Cleveland Clinic (US), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Innsbruck Medical University (AT), Duke University (US), Universität Innsbruck (AT), Université de Lille (FR), Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (BR), Ghent University Hospital (BE), Women's College Hospital (CA), Gentofte Hospital (DK), Karolinska Institutet (SE), The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille (FR), Lille’s Cardiology Hospital (FR), Saint Göran Hospital (SE), Affidea (CH), Prostate Cancer Research (GB), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (DE), Azienda USL di Bologna (IT), Algarve Biomedical Center (PT), Tirol Kliniken (AT), University Children's Hospital Tübingen (DE), Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia di Udine (IT), The London College (GB), Kantonsspital Graubünden (CH), University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Rijnstate Hospital (NL), University College London (GB), University of Algarve (PT), University of Tübingen (DE)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
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