The volume and thickness of preprostatic fat on MRIs are not associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness in men undergoing radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Periprostatic fat has a metabolic activity on the prostate via cytokines that act paracrine on several signaling pathways including tumorigenesis. We investigated whether there was an association between preprostatic fat abundance and prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study including patients who underwent radical prostatectomy in our center from the prospective RESCAP database. Preoperative MRIs were re-read and different measurements of preprostatic fat (PPF) were performed. The maximum thickness (PPFmax) and the minimum thickness (PPFmin) were measured on a median T2 sagittal section. The total volume of preprostatic fat (PPFV) and volume normalized by prostate volume (NPPFV) were calculated semi-automatically by segmentation on continuous axial sections of 3mm. The association of these parameters with the aggressiveness criteria of PCa (ISUP 3-5 on biopsies and on operative specimen, intermediate or high-risk disease according to D'AMICO, PSA>10, upgrading risk at radical prostatectomy) was measured as well as the association between normal, overweight, and obese BMI classes and the aggressiveness criteria used. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one men were included in this study. In both the univariate analysis and the multivariate analysis, none of the preprostatic fat measurements (PPFmax, PPFmin, PPFV and NPPFV) were associated with PCa aggressiveness criteria. There was also no association between BMI class and tumor aggressiveness. CONCLUSION: In this study, there is no association between the abundance of preprostatic fat and PCa aggressiveness according to the periprostatic fat measurements achieved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.