COIOS
Healthcare today Item refines peer-reviewed

PSA density stratifies later significant prostate cancer risk after a negative MRI

Among 1,685 Swedish men with a negative prostate MRI in the Gothenburg-2 screening trial, seven-year cumulative incidence of clinically significant prostate cancer was 5.5% where baseline PSA density was below 0.10 ng/mL2, against 13.8% and 11.9% in the higher bands.

A pre-specified sub-analysis of the randomised Gothenburg-2 screening trial followed 1,685 men whose initial MRI was negative (PI-RADS 2 or below) for a median of 5.5 years. Cumulative incidence of clinically significant cancer at seven years was 7.1% overall, and 5.5%, 13.8% and 11.9% across ascending PSA density bands; 42 of the 80 significant cancers nonetheless arose in the lowest-density group, 12 of them high-grade (Gleason 4+3 or above). A modelled PSA-density-triggered follow-up reduced MRI use by 60% and biopsies by 46% while delaying diagnosis in 17% of significant cases.

Why it is interesting: Quantifies how much residual cancer risk remains after a negative screening MRI, and the detection traded away by triaging repeat imaging on PSA density.

Source
BJU International, 18 September 2026
DOI
10.1111/bju.70450
Type
Peer-reviewed article
Design
Pre-specified sub-analysis of the population-based randomised Göteborg-2 screening trial; 1685 men with a negative initial MRI, PSA testing 2015-2021, follow-up to September 2024 (median 5.5 years)
Verdict
Refines prior evidence
Driver
Cancer