A recent meta-analysis has revealed troubling disparities in the use of prostate MRI among racial minority groups, with Black and Hispanic men receiving significantly less diagnostic imaging than their white counterparts. The study, published in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, analyzed data from over 94,000 patients and found that Caucasian men were three times more likely to undergo prostate MRI than Black men.
The gap was even wider for other groups. Only 19% of Black men received prostate MRI, compared to 66% of white patients. Hispanic men saw even lower rates at just 7%, and Asian men at 4%. These disparities extended to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) use, with Black men again showing lower utilization.
“Racial disparities in diagnostic imaging, particularly the use of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) for prostate cancer, are associated with poor outcomes for Black patients,” wrote Ashkan Bahrami, MD, and colleagues. They noted that socioeconomic, geographic, and insurance-related factors accounted for more than 81% of the difference in mpMRI use.
The authors emphasized that income and insurance coverage play a major role in access to advanced imaging. “Patients with a broader variety of insurance coverage and better incomes are more likely to seek advanced diagnostics imaging,” they stated.
To reduce these disparities, the researchers advocate for policies that promote MRI-based protocols. They argue that mpMRI improves diagnostic precision and reduces unnecessary biopsies, especially for patients who lack comprehensive care.
See: “Prostate MRI is significantly underutilized in racial minority groups” (August 12, 2025)
