To assess adoption of prebiopsy prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the United States and to evaluate factors associated with magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy (MRI-Bx) use. Prior reports have shown improved cancer detection with MRI-Bx vs transrectal ultrasound-guided methods (transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy [TRUS-Bx]). Population-based trends of their use and outcomes have not been previously characterized.

Using private insurance claims (2009-2015), we identified men who underwent prostate biopsy. Exposures were biopsy year and geographic region defined by metropolitan statistical area. Outcomes included biopsy type (MRI-Bx, TRUS-Bx, or transperineal biopsy) based on procedure codes and cancer detection based on a new diagnosis for prostate cancer (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] 185). Hierarchical mixed-effects multivariable regression estimated odds of undergoing MRI-Bx.

We identified 241,681 men (mean age 57.5 ± 5.4 years) who underwent biopsy. The use of MRI-Bx rose rapidly (0.2% in 2009 to 6.5% in 2015, P <.001). Overall, 3429 men underwent MRI before biopsy, more commonly in metropolitan statistical areas (odds ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.66-2.19). In 2015, nearly 18% of men with prior negative biopsy underwent a prebiopsy MRI. Patients with prior negative biopsies were over 4 times more likely to use MRI guidance (vs no prior biopsies, odds ratio 4.63, 95% confidence interval 4.27-5.02) and had a greater chance of cancer detection with MRI-Bx (25.2%) vs TRUS-Bx (19.7%, P = .010).

Among men undergoing prostate biopsy, prebiopsy prostate MRI utilization was concentrated within urban areas and among patients with prior negative biopsies, where its use was associated with superior cancer detection compared with traditional TRUS-Bx.