INTRODUCTION: Advances in MRI technology for detection of prostate cancer allow targeted biopsies of suspicious areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed on Medline(®) with the keywords "targeted", "prostate biopsy" and related articles. We studied 65 abstracts and 102 related abstracts, read 38 articles and selected 27 articles. RESULTS: Mental reconstruction gives way for targeted biopsies by direct MRI guidance inside the MRI, and MRI-TRUS fusion. The first option offers high precision targeting but is limited by the accessibility, cost and duration of the procedure. MRI-TRUS image fusion is a promising compromise. Cancer detection rates vary from 15 to 64 %. CONCLUSION: Biopsies targeting suspicious areas on MRI are promising to improve the sensitivity and performance of prostate biopsies.