Despite its limitations, bpMRI offers several distinct advantages over mpMRI, including reduced costs, shorter scan times, and the avoidance of contrast agents, which can be beneficial for patients with renal impairment or contrast allergies.
These factors make bpMRI an attractive option for routine prostate cancer screening, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to contrast-enhanced imaging may be constrained. However, mpMRI remains the preferred modality for comprehensive prostate cancer evaluation, especially in high-risk cases where accurate lesion characterization and staging are critical.
Future research should explore the long-term clinical utility of bpMRI, particularly in its integration with emerging diagnostic technologies such as artificial intelligence-based image analysis. The potential for AI-driven algorithms to enhance bpMRI interpretation could help mitigate some of its limitations and improve its diagnostic accuracy.
Further studies are also needed to refine the PI-RADS assessment criteria for bpMRI and establish standardized protocols to optimize its application in clinical practice.