Transrectal biopsy of the prostate for the detection of non-palpable prostate cancer: a comparison of 6 versus 12 core biopsy

PURPOSE: Several studies suggest that extended transrectal prostate biopsy more than 6 core may improve the cancer detection rate. We compared 6 and 12 core biopsies to determine the impact on cancer detection and complication rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 150 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy between January 1999 and December 2003. Patients who were suspected to have prostate cancer on digital rectal examination and/or who had a history of previous prostate biopsy were excluded. Sextant biopsy was performed in 52 patients (6 core group) and 12 core biopsy was performed in 98 patients (12 core group). The cancer detection rate and post-biopsy complication rate were estimated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the overall cancer detection rate between 6 and 12 core groups (17 of 52 men or 32.7% versus 35 of 98 men or 35.7%). In addition, even if calculated the cancer detection rate stratified according to a PSA of 0 to 4.0, 4.1 to 10.0 and greater than 10.0 ng/ml, there was no significant difference between both groups. There was also insignificant difference of complication rate between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed that there was no significant difference in cancer detection and complication rate between both groups.     

Extensive biopsy using a combined transperineal and transrectal approach to improve prostate cancer detection

PURPOSE: Previous studies have indicated that 6-core transrectal prostate biopsy misses a considerable number of cancers. We performed an extensive biopsy protocol of 12-core sampling using both transperineal and transrectal approaches to determine the impact on the cancer detection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 402 men who underwent 6-core transperineal and 6-core transrectal biopsies simultaneously due to abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4.0 ng/mL or greater. Using the transperineal approach we obtained four cores from the bilateral peripheral zone targeting the lateral and parasagittal areas and two cores from the bilateral transition zone. The following transrectal biopsy was performed traditionally. We compared cancer detection rate between the extended 12-core procedure and conventional 6-core transperineal and transrectal groups in terms of total PSA and DRE findings. RESULTS: Using the extensive combined method, prostate cancer was detected in 195 cases (48.5%) and the detection rate significantly increased 7.2% and 8.5% compared to the transperineal and transrectal groups, respectively. According to PSA levels and DRE findings, the cancer detection rate by the combined method was significantly improved in patients with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL and negative DRE: 10.3% and 11.6% compared to the transperineal and transrectal groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The extensive 12-core method significantly improved the overall cancer detection rate and was especially efficient for men with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL accompanied by a negative DRE finding.     

Prostate cancer detection by prostate biopsy among Japanese with prostate-specific antigen below 4.0 ng/ml

The cases of prostate cancer diagnosed at our hospital after the introduction of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy were analyzed to ascertain the cancer detection rate among individuals with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) below 4.0 ng/ml and to assess the pathological characteristics of the prostatectomy specimens. During the period from January 1997 to December 2003, 1,167 individuals received prostate biopsies at our hospital. Before March 2003, the PSA cut-off level for biopsy was set at 4.0 ng/ml, but a biopsy was sometimes performed if a rectal examination revealed abnormalities or the patient desired a biopsy with a PSA below 4.0 ng/ml. After April 2003, all individuals with a PSA over 3.1 ng/ml were biopsied. The results of the prostate biopsy and the pathology data on radical prostatectomy specimens were compared between individuals with a PSA below 4.0 ng/ml and those with a PSA of 4.1-10 ng/ml. The prostate cancer detection rate among individuals with a PSA between 3.1 and 4.0 ng/ml was 19.4% (12/62) before March 2003 and 15.6% (7/45) after April 2003. The number of cancer-positive core was significantly lower among individuals with a PSA below 4.0 ng/ml. On prostatectomy specimens the percentage of surgical margin positive cases was significantly higher among individuals with a PSA below 4.0ng/ml (17 cases) than those with a PSA of 4.1-10 ng/ml (67 cases), although there was no significant difference between these two groups in terms of the pathological stage and Gleason score. Our results indicate that the prostate cancer detection rate is also high among Japanese men with a PSA below 4.0 ng/ml. The biopsy results and pathological features for prostate cancer with a PSA below 4.0 ng/ml did not differ markedly from prostate cancer with a PSA in the gray zone (4.1-10.0 ng/ml).     

The value of a single biopsy with 12 transperineal cores for detecting prostate cancer in patients with elevated prostate specific antigen

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer detection on standard sextant biopsy is considered inadequate. Various biopsy protocols have been introduced to improve cancer diagnosis. We report our experience with transperineal 12-core prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study 650 patients underwent prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurement during a 15-month period, of whom 141 with PSA greater than 4 ng./ml. also underwent transperineal 12-core prostate biopsy using the fan technique. Median PSA was 8 ng./ml. (range 4.1 to 5,000). RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 72 of the 141 patients (51%), including 44 of the 97 (45%) with PSA between 4.1 and 10 ng./ml. This incidence is higher than previously reported in the literature using other biopsy techniques. Disease was low grade Gleason 2 to 4 in 4 cases (5%), intermediate grade Gleason 5 to 6 in 26 (35%) and high grade Gleason 7 to 10 in the remaining 42 (60%). CONCLUSIONS: A high cancer detection rate is achieved by 12-core transperineal prostate biopsy. Most tumors represent clinically significant cancer. Further randomized trials are required to confirm these data.     

Transperineal extended biopsy improves the clinically significant prostate cancer detection rate: A comparative study of 6 and 12 biopsy cores

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the improvement in the rate of prostate cancer detection when using a 12-core transperineal biopsy protocol including transitional zone biopsy. METHODS: Between April 2003 and November 2004, 247 consecutive men underwent transperineal systemic 12-core biopsy of the prostate. Six cores were obtained at the peripheral zone, four at the transitional zone and two at the apex. We examined the cancer detection rate in each of the 12 cores, and also determined the improvement of cancer detection resulting from the extensive 12-core versus standard 6-core biopsy. RESULTS: Using the extensive 12-core biopsy, prostate cancer was detected in 98 cases (39.7%). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density, the positive rate in digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound findings were significantly higher in the prostate cancer group than in the non-prostate cancer group, and prostate volume was larger in non-prostate cancer group. Every site showed almost the same positive rate, between 17.8 and 21.5%. There were 20 cases which were positive in the extended biopsy, but negative in the sextant. The detection improved significantly (20.4%). The improvement of cancer detection in extended biopsy was better in men with PSA levels of 10 ng/mL or less (28.9%), PSA density 0.3 or less (25.8%), negative digital rectal examination (23.3%), and negative transrectal ultrasound (21.6%). Of these twenty patients, no cases with insignificant tumor were detected in the six prostatectomy cases. In particular, three cases of the six were transitional-zone-only cancer. CONCLUSION: Transperineal extended 12-core biopsy including 4 transitional zone cores is a more useful procedure than transperineal 6-core biopsy. Routine transitional zone biopsy, that is different from transrectal biopsy, might be useful for detecting biologically significant cancer.     

A prospective randomized trial comparing 6 versus 12 prostate biopsy cores: impact on cancer detection

PURPOSE: Several studies suggest that sextant transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate provides insufficient material to detect all clinically important prostate cancer, and obtaining more biopsy cores may improve the cancer detection rate. We performed a prospective randomized trial comparing 6 to 12 prostate biopsy cores to determine the impact on the cancer detection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively randomized 244 men, including 71 (29%) black men, with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 65 +/- 8 years to undergo biopsy with 6 or 12 peripheral zone tissue cores. In our study subjects serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) was between 2.5 and 20 ng./ml., and/or digital rectal examination was suspicious for cancer. All men completed a self-administered pre-biopsy and 2 post-biopsy questionnaires at 2 and 4 weeks. Cancer detection rates were compared in the groups and correlated with race, biopsy history, digital rectal examination findings, total PSA, transrectal ultrasound volume and PSA density, as determined by the formula, total PSA/transrectal ultrasound volume. RESULTS: The cancer detection rate in the 6 and 12 core groups was almost identical (26% and 27%, p = 0.9). There was no significant difference in cancer detection in the 2 trial arms with respect to subject race, biopsy history, digital rectal examination findings, total PSA, transrectal ultrasound volume or PSA density. However, our study did not have the statistical power to rule out small differences. CONCLUSIONS: The overall cancer detection rate is not materially increased by 12 core, peripheral zone biopsy in men in whom prostate cancer was mainly detected by screening.     

A prospective randomized comparison of diagnostic efficacy between transperineal and transrectal 12-core prostate biopsy

The aim of this study is to elucidate the diagnostic efficacy between transperineal and transrectal 12-core prostate biopsy for prostate cancer. We prospectively randomized 200 consecutive men into two groups to undergo systematic prostate biopsy. Overall positivity for cancer was similar (47% by transperineal and 53% by transrectal; P=0.480). However, in case with 'gray zone' PSA (from 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml), significantly more cores were positive when approach was transperineal, especially among transition zone cores. Therefore, urologist preferences are sufficient for choosing an approach, except for a possible small advantage of transperineal biopsy when PSA is in gray zone.     

Transperineal prostate biopsy after abdominoperineal resection

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer evaluation in men who have undergone abdominoperineal resection poses a challenge for urologists. Diagnosis and staging methods are limited because as access to the prostate via digital rectal examination is not possible. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been used to screen for malignancy in this population. However, the conventional diagnostic technique with transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies cannot be used. Transperineal ultrasound and biopsy have been described to evaluate the prostate in this setting. We report our experience with transperineal ultrasound biopsy for evaluating the prostate in patients with elevated PSA who have previously undergone abdominoperineal resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 28 patients treated at 2 institutions. All patients had a history of abdominoperineal resection and subsequent transperineal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy for evaluating elevated PSA. Mean serum PSA in this population was 22 ng./ml. (median 9.5, range 4.1 to 237). Abdominoperineal resection was done in 16 patients (57%) for colorectal cancer, in 11 (39%) for ulcerative colitis and in 1 (4%) for familial polyposis coli. Average time since resection was 14 years (range 1 to 33). Five patients had previously undergone radiation therapy as part of treatment for colorectal cancer before transperineal ultrasound biopsy. RESULTS: Of the 28 biopsies performed 23 revealed prostate cancer, 2 revealed prostatitis and 3 were benign. Average Gleason grade was 6.6 (range 3 to 9). Of the 23 patients with prostate cancer 22 were treated with androgen deprivation therapy (7), prostatectomy (8), external beam (6) and high dose (1) radiation therapy. Of the 8 patients who underwent prostatectomy pathological stage was T2 in 3 and T3 in 4, while pathological findings were not determined in 1 patient in whom the prostate was removed in pieces. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a history of abdominoperineal resection and elevated PSA transperineal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate can provide an accurate tissue diagnosis.     

Screening of prostate cancer with PSA and transperineal six sextant biopsy]

OBJECT: The objectives of this study are to examine how many cancer patients we can detect among the outpatients whose PSA values are above 4.0 ng/ml, and to compare the usefulness of transperineal six sextant biopsy (ss-biopsy) with that of transrectal one. METHODS: All the male outpatients (above 50 years old) were inspected Tandem-R PSA levels and digital rectal examination (DRE). Among them, 129 patients showed more than 4.0 ng/ml of PSA values and/or positive finding of DRE, and underwent subsequent transperineal ss-biopsy. RESULTS: Cancers were detected in 52 patients (40.3%) without major complications. Among 64 gray zone (PSA 4.1-10.0 ng/ml) patients, 17 (26.6%) were found to be cancer by ss-biopsy, meanwhile only 2 cancer patients (8.9%) were detected from 23 gray zone ones by traditional directed biopsy. Application of PSA density could not be found practicable to eliminate unnecessary biopsies in the gray zone group. CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer could be found nearly a fourth in the gray zone group of the outpatients. To enhance the detection rate, obtaining at least 6 core samples are recommended from either perineal or rectal root.     

Effect of dimensions and volume of the prostate on cancer detection rate of 12 core prostate biopsy

Purpose To evaluate if volume or any of the three dimensions of prostate influences cancer detection rate by 12-core transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy. Materials and methods We have searched our database for patients who underwent 12 core TRUS guided prostate biopsy with PSA values between 4.0 and 9.9 ng/ml, benign digital exam and no suspicious lesions at TRUS. The measurements of three dimensions and volume of the prostate of 99 patients were correlated with cancer detection rates of biopsy. Results There were no statistically significant differences between patients with prostate cancer or with benign histopathologic result for mean age, PSA and % PSA. Patients without cancer had a significantly higher mean prostate volume (58.88 cc) than patients with cancer (48.85 cc) (P = 0.038). A volume of 48.5 cc was determined as a cut-off value above which cancer detection rate decreases. Of the three dimensions, only the difference for the craniocaudal dimension between benign and malignant groups was marginally significant (P = 0.052). Conclusions With 12 core biopsy, cancer detection rate is lower in patients with prostates larger than 48.5 cc. Further studies comparing biopsy results with prostatectomy specimens can clarify whether these results necessitates higher number of cores for such patients.     

模板定位下经会阴前列腺分区穿刺活检1270例临床研究

目的 评价模板定位下经会阴前列腺穿刺活检术诊断前列腺癌的可行性及应用价值.方法 2004年5月至2009年10月1270例患者接受了经直肠超声引导模板定位下经会阴前列腺穿刺活检术.年龄平均70.4(26～90)岁.PSA 0.2～5000.0 ng/ml中位数12.96 ng/ml.前列腺体积平均53.6(7～200)ml,中位数47 ml.每区穿刺1～4针,每例平均18.4(11～44)针.结果 1270例患者穿刺活检阳性486例,阳性率38.3%.PSA 0～4.0、4.1～10.0、10.1～20.0、20.1～40.0、40.1～60.0、60.1～100.0、>100.0 ng/ml者阳性率分别为21.9%(16/73)、16.6%(67/403)、30.7%(122/397)、46.7%(77/165)、68.3%(41/60)、86.2%(46/54)、99.2%(117/118).前列腺体积≤20、21～40、41～60、61～80、>80 ml者阳性率分别为72.1%(49/68)、55.6%(234/421)、32.5%(136/418)、23.3%(48/206)、12.1%(19/157).PSA＜20 ng/ml患者中前列腺尖部及其余部检出率分别为44.8%及35.3%,二者比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).1270例患者前区及后区检出率分别为79.4%及86.8%,二者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).患者均未出现严重并发症.结论 模板定位下经会阴前列腺分区穿刺活检准确,安全.前列腺尖部肿瘤发生率高于其余部位,PSA＜20ng/ml患者活检时应加强尖部前列腺组织取样.     

Prostate cancer detection among men with prostate specific antigen levels of 2.5 to 4.0 ng/ml in a Japanese urological referral population

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer detection at levels of 2.5 to 4.0 ng/ml in a Japanese urological referral population has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cancer detection rate and clinical relevance of prostate cancer in this PSA range. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All urological patients 70 years or younger tested for prostate cancer were studied. There were 550, 97, 112 and 52 patients with a PSA of less than 2.5, 2.5 to 4.0, 4.1 to 10.0 and more than 10.0 ng/ml, respectively. Transrectal 10-core prostate biopsy was performed in 80 (82%) of the 97 patients with a PSA of 2.5 to 4.0 ng/ml and 102 (91%) of the 112 patients with a PSA of 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml. RESULTS: Cancer detection rates in patients who underwent biopsy were 26.3% and 34.3% at PSA levels 2.5 to 4.0 and 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, respectively. High grade cancers with Gleason score 7 or more were found in 19.0% and 22.9% of patients with cancer with PSA 2.5 to 4.0 and 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, respectively. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in pathological findings on biopsy, including percent positive cores (16.7% vs 20.0%, p = 0.10), maximum cancer length (25.0% vs 30.0%, p = 0.28) and maximum percent cancer length (2.0 vs 3.0 mm, p = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Japanese urological referral patients develop prostate cancer quite commonly even if their serum PSA levels are 2.5 to 4.0 ng/ml. Since these cancer cases include high grade, clinically significant cancer, prostate biopsy might be considered at least for selected cases in this PSA range.     

超声引导下经会阴定位模板的前列腺饱和穿刺活检

目的探讨超声引导下经会阴定位模板前列腺饱和穿刺活检的准确性、安全性。方法303例PSA〉4．0ng／ml和（或）DRE异常和（或）前列腺B超、CT或MRI异常者接受经会阴定位模板饱和穿刺活检。年龄35～90岁，平均69．7岁。PSA0．2～3000．0ng／ml，中位数13．7ng／ml。前列腺体积7～190ml，中位数47ml。结果每区活检1～4针，共11～44针，平均23．7针。前列腺癌活检阳性率37．6％（114／303）。PSA0～4．0、4．1～10．0、10．1～20．0、20．1～30．0、30．1～70．0及〉70．0ng／ml者阳性率分别为22．2％（4／18）、8．2％（6／73）、21．6％（22／102）、48．4％（15／31）、68．4％（26／38）及100．0％（41／41）。前列腺体积〈20、20～40、41～60及〉60ml者阳性率分别为68．0％（17／25）、51．4％（54／105）、27．5％（19／69）及23．1％（24／104）。无一例出现严重并发症。结论TRUS引导下经会阴定位模板饱和穿刺活检精确而安全，对于前列腺癌的准确分期有重要意义。     

超声引导下12+x针前列腺穿刺活检单中心407例临床分析

目的:分析单中心超声引导下12+x针前列腺穿刺活检结果,比较不同穿刺途径的临床效果。方法:回顾分析2016年6月~2019年12月我院完成的407例前列腺穿刺活检的临床资料,经直肠前列腺穿刺290例(经直肠组),经会阴前列腺穿刺117例(经会阴组),均采用超声引导下12+x针法,前列腺影像学正常者行系统穿刺,影像学异常者行系统+靶向穿刺。比较两组前列腺癌(PCa)的检出率及并发症差异,分析两组按PSA、影像学分层PCa检出率的差异,比较靶向穿刺与系统穿刺癌检出率的差异,分析临床有意义前列腺癌(csPCa)的检出情况。结果:(1)PCa总检出率为44.0%(179/407),经直肠组与经会阴组PCa检出率比较差异无统计学意义[44.8%(130/290)vs.41.9%(49/117),P>0.05]。其中,PSA≤4 ng/mL、4 ng/mL20 ng/mL各水平分层中,两组PCa检出率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组中前列腺影像学异常者的PCa检出率均高于影像学正常者(P<0.05)。影像学异常者中,经直肠组与经会阴组PCa检出率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(2)前列腺影像学异常者总的PCa检出率为57.5%(111/193),靶向穿刺PCa检出率为42.0%(81/193),系统穿刺为47.7%(92/193),两者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但靶向穿刺单针阳性率比系统穿刺更高(P<0.01)。同一途径下的靶向穿刺与系统穿刺PCa检出率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组中分别比较靶向穿刺、系统穿刺的PCa检出率,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(3)在所有患者中,经直肠途径csPCa检出率为36.9%(107/290),经会阴途径csPCa检出率为40.2%(47/117),两者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。靶向穿刺与系统穿刺在csPCa的检出率上比较差异无统计学意义。csPCa在诊断出的PCa患者中的占比,经会阴途径占比高于经直肠途径[95.9%(47/49)vs.82.3%(107/130),P<0.05]。(4)经直肠组总并发症发生率显著高于经会阴组[39.3%(114/290)vs.20.5%(24/117),P<0.01]。经直肠组发热、血便发生率比经会阴组更高,分别为[10.3%(30/290)vs.3.4%(4/117),P<0.05]、[14.1%(41/290)vs.1.7%(2/117),P<0.01],两组在血尿、下尿路症状、尿潴留、迷走反射发生率上比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:超声引导下12+x针前列腺穿刺活检PCa检出率较好,影像学异常者靶向穿刺与系统穿刺PCa、csPCa检出率差异均无统计学意义,靶向穿刺单针阳性率较高。经直肠途径与经会阴途径在PCa、csPCa检出率比较差异无统计学意义,经会阴途径并发症更少。在诊断出的PCa中,经会阴途径可检出更多的csPCa。     

Ultrasound-guided transrectal extended prostate biopsy： a prospective study

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the 10 systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy compared with the sextant biopsy technique for patients with suspected prostate cancer. Methods: One hundred and fifty-two patients with suspected prostate cancer were included in the study. Patients were entered in the study because they presented with high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) (over 4 ng/mL) and/or had undergone an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE). In addition to sextant prostate biopsy cores, four more biopsies were obtained from the lateral peripheral zone with additional cores from each suspicious area revealed by transrectal ultrasound. Sextant, lateral peripheral zone and suspicious area biopsy cores were submitted separately to the pathological department. Results: Cancer detection rates were 27.6% (42/152) and 19.7% (30/152) for the 10-core and sextant core biopsy protocols, respectively. Adding the lateral peripheral zone (PZ) to the sextant prostate biopsy showed a 28.6% (12/42) increase in the cancer detection rate in patients with positive prostate cancer (P < 0.01). The cancer detection rate in patients who presented with elevated PSA was 29.3% (34/116). When serum PSA was 4-10 ng/mL TRUS-guided biopsy detected cancer in 20.6%, while the detection rate was 32.4% and 47.0% when serum PSA was 10-20 ng/mL and above 20 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The 10 systematic TRUS-guided prostate biopsy improves the detection rate of prostate cancer by 28.6% when compared with the sextant biopsy technique alone, without increase in the morbidity. We therefore recommend the 10-core biopsy protocol to be the preferred method for early detection of prostate cancer.     

Does transrectal ultrasound guided eight‐core prostate biopsy improve cancer detection rates in patients with prostate‐specific antigen levels of 4.1–10 ng/mL?

BACKGROUND: To investigate retrospectively whether the eight-core biopsy method improves the prostate cancer detection rate when compared with the standard sextant biopsy method in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4.1-10 ng/mL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 437 patients whose PSA levels ranged from 4.1 to 10 ng/mL, 237 underwent a transrectal ultrasound guided sextant biopsy (sextant group), and 200 underwent an eight-core biopsy (eight-core group). Eight core samples were obtained from each of the far lateral regions in addition to the standard sextant biopsy cores. None of the patients had a previous history of prostate biopsy. RESULTS: Of the 237 patients in the sextant group, prostate cancer was detected in 47 patients (19.8%) and in 50 of the 200 patients in the eight- core group (25.0%). The rates of detection in the two methods were not statistically significant. However, in patients whose PSA density was less than 0.1 ng/mL per cc, the cancer detection rates in the sextant group and the eight-core group were 4.5% and 18.8%, respectively (P = 0.046). The morbidity and complications of the eight-core biopsy method were not notable. CONCLUSIONS: Only in patients with PSA levels of 4.1-10 ng/mL and density of less than 0.1 ng/mL per cc was the eight-core biopsy method an improvement on the sextant biopsy method in terms of prostate cancer detection rate. Accordingly, a number of cores greater than eight will be required to improve the cancer detection rates in patients with PSA levels of 4.1-10 ng/mL and PSA densities of more than 0.1 ng/mL per cc.     

Impact of additional sampling in the TRUS-guided biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of 10+ systematic sampling technique when performing transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy, compared with the sextant biopsy technique for patients with suspected prostate cancer. METHODS: 286 patients with suspected prostate cancer were included in the study. Patients were eligible for the study if they had serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/ml or ratio PSA <0.25 and/or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE). The population sample was divided in three groups: (1) those with positive PSA, PSA ratio and DRE (70 patients); (2) those with positive PSA and PSA ratio but normal DRE (178 patients), and (3) those with positive PSA and PSA ratio, positive PSA velocity and a negative biopsy in the previous 6-month period (38 patients). In addition to the conventional sextant prostate biopsy cores, four more biopsies were obtained from the lateral peripheral zone (10 core biopsy protocol). Additional cores (total of 12-14) were also randomly selected in case of larger prostates (>60 ml) or from suspicious foci revealed by transrectal ultrasound. All additional biopsy cores were submitted separately to the pathological department. RESULTS: Cancer was detected in 55.7% (39/70) and 69% (48/70) of the patients (for sextant core and for the extended biopsy protocols, respectively) in the first study group, 11% (20/178) and 23% (41/178) of the patients (for the sextant and the extended biopsy protocols, respectively) in the second study group, and 42% (16/38) and 63% (24/38) of the patients (for the sextant and the extended biopsy protocols, respectively) in the third study group. The addition of the lateral peripheral zone (PZ) of the prostate to the sextant biopsy showed a 23, 105 and 50% increase in the number of cancers diagnosed in the first, second and third study groups, respectively. The improvement of cancer detection rate (sensitivity) was statistically significant for all groups evaluated. CONCLUSION: The 10+ systematic TRUS-guided prostate biopsy improves the detection rate of prostate cancer compared to the sextant biopsy technique alone, especially when performed in men with positive PSA, PSA ratio, and negative DRE.     

Extended sector biopsy for detection of carcinoma of the prostate

Purpose: To determine whether an extended sector biopsy of the prostate will increase the detection of prostate cancer, without causing an increase in morbidity. Materials and Methods: A total of 74 men with a mean age of 62.3 years (46-98 years) who either had an elevated PSA or an abnormal digital rectal exam underwent a transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy. Beginning on 7/1/98, an extended sector biopsy technique was performed on 74 patients by one urologist (RRB). Each transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy included 12 total cores (normal sextant biopsy, 2 in each peripheral zone, and 2 in the transition zone). We retrospectively reviewed the biopsy results for the location of cancer. PSA data and morbidity of the procedures were reviewed. Results: Of 74 total patients, 40 (54.1%) were positive for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. There were 10 positive results detected only in the additional zones. If one looks at the total number of cancers detected (40), then 10/40 (25%) of the cancers detected were found in the additional regions only or in 13.5% of all patients biopsied. Of the 10 patients with sector only prostate cancer, 8 were detected in the peripheral zone, 1 in the transition zone and 1 in both zones. All 10 patients had a Gleason pattern score 3+3=6 or 4+3=7. There were no atypical or PIN cores found in the sector zones only. PSA ranged from 1.2-142 (median 6.0 ng/ml). The median PSA was 6.2 ng/ml in all patients found to have cancer, and 6.0 ng/ml in the cancers detected only in the additional zones. There was 1 (1.4%) complication of urinary retention and fever. Conclusion: Our study suggests that an extensive sector biopsy may increase the detection of prostate cancer by 13.5% over a routine sextant biopsy, without demonstrable serious morbidity.     

The role of power Doppler-guided prostatic biopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer]

Between March 1997 and December 1998, a total of 170 cases with an abnormal serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level (range: 4.1-200, mean: 20.5 +/- 31.0) were chosen for this study. Following the evaluation of the prostate using power Doppler imaging (PDI) with a 7.5 MHz transrectal probe, the hypervascular lesion (HVL) was biopsied transperineally under PDI real-time guidance. Thereafter, when gray-scale transrectal sonography revealed a hypoechoic lesion, additional samples were taken from them. Finally, sextant systematic biopsy was performed in all cases. Prostatic biopsy was positive for cancer in 41 cases (24%). The positive biopsy rate was 59% (40/68) in cases with HVL, compared to 1% (1/102) in cases with no HVL (p < 0.0001). In 107 patients with serum PSA 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, biopsy was positive in 13 cases (12%). The positive biopsy rate was 38% (12/32) in cases with HVL, compared to 1% (1/75) in cases with no HVL (p < 0.0001). These results imply that HVL represents the neovascularity or increased perfusion of blood in the cancer lesion. Power Doppler-guided prostatic biopsy could be promising as a new biopsy technique in patients with abnormal PSA levels including moderately elevated PSA levels (4.1-10.0 ng/ml).     

经直肠超声造影靶向前列腺穿刺活检在PSA水平为4~20 ng/ml患者中的作用

目的：探讨前列腺超声造影在经直肠前列腺靶向穿刺活检中的临床应用价值.方法选择96例血清PSA在4~20 ng/ml行前列腺穿刺活检的患者,其中50例行经直肠超声前列腺13针系统性穿刺活检;46例先行经直肠前列腺超声造影,后对超声造影异常增强区靶向穿刺加6点常规穿刺,超声造影无异常者同系统性穿刺.比较两组穿刺活检的效率.结果系统性穿刺组前列腺癌的阳性率为22.0％,造影穿刺组为41.3％,两组间对单纯移行区肿瘤的检出率有统计学差异(P＜0.05).系统穿刺组人均穿刺13.0针,单针阳性率为11％;造影穿刺组人均穿刺10.9针,单针阳性率为20％;两组单针阳性率、人均穿刺针数差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).超声造影异常的患者单针阳性率明显高于普通超声检查的患者(31.5％ v s 11.3％),同时人均穿刺针数低于超声引导下系统性穿刺(9.7 vs 13.0针),差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).系统性穿刺组前列腺癌患者总 Gleason评分为74分,人均6.7分,超声造影穿刺组则分别为133、7.0分,两组比较有统计学差异.两组无严重并发症.结论对于PSA＜20 ng/ml 的患者,超声造影对引导经直肠前列腺靶向穿刺活检具有更高的效率,可减轻患者的痛苦.