The incidence of prostate cancer in men with prostate specific antigen greater than 4.0 ng/ml: a randomized study of 6 versus 12 core transperineal prostate biopsy

Initial Outcomes of Freehand Transperineal Biopsies Regarding Diagnostic Value and Safety: An Early Experience at King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in Saudi Arabia with a high incidence rate. Trans-rectal ultrasound guided prostatic biopsy (TRUSBx) has been the standard diagnostic study for prostate cancer since a landmark study in 1989 which showed that it is better than digitally directed biopsy sampling of the prostate. As an alternative to TRUSBx, transperineal biopsies (TPBx) have gained popularity as they give a higher accuracy rate and avoid many complications. A new study has been conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to compare TRUSBx and TPBx showed that TPBx has a significantly higher detection rate of prostate cancer cases compared to TRUSBx (45.1% vs. 29.1%, p=0.003). The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value and safety of freehand transperineal prostate biopsy in patients with an elevated prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and/or abnormal digital rectal exam in King Fahad Specialist Hospital KFSH in Buraydah, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This is an observational retrospective study of all patients (n=39) who underwent transperineal biopsies at KFSH to assess the diagnostic value and safety of the procedure.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 70.3 (SD 10.1) years. The most commonly found diagnosis was adenocarcinoma (61.5%), and incidence of complications was detected in (5.1%) of the patients.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the freehand technique TPBx has a high accuracy rate in detecting prostatic cancer. However, the learning curve could be a limiting factor in implementing it. Increasing the number of biopsies could positively affect diagnostic accuracy, especially with our low complication rate in this procedure. A low number of biopsies in the older age group can give an accurate result with a low risk of complications. Although template-guided TPBx and robot-guided TPBx are better options, the freehand technique represents a cost-effective and time-saving alternative. However, more studies are needed to compare the outcome of such a technique.

A systematic review on the outcomes of local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the diagnostic ability, complication rate, patient tolerability, and cost of local anaesthetic (LA) transperineal prostate biopsy.

METHODS

Two reviewers searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Embase for publications on LA transperineal prostate biopsy up to March 2021. Outcomes of interest included cancer detection rates, complication rates, pain assessments and cost.

RESULTS

A total of 35 publications with 113 944 men were included in this review. The cancer detection rate for LA transperineal prostate biopsy in patients undergoing primary biopsy was 52% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.60; I² = 97) and the clinically significant cancer detection rate (Gleason≥3 + 4) was 37% (95% CI 0.24-0.52; I² = 99%). The rate of infection-related complications in the included studies was 0.15% (95% CI 0.0000-0.0043; I² = 86). The LA transperineal procedures had a low rate of procedural abandonment (26/6954, 0.37%), with the greatest pain scores measured during LA administration. No formal cost analyses on LA transperineal prostate biopsies were identified in the literature. The overall risk of bias in the included studies was high, with considerable study heterogeneity and publication bias.

CONCLUSION

Transperineal prostate biopsy performed under LA is a viable option for centres interested in avoiding the risk of infection associated with transrectal biopsy, and the logistical burden of general anaesthesia. Further investigation into LA transperineal prostate biopsy with comparative studies is warranted for its consideration as the standard in prostate biopsy technique.

Role of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Transperineal Prostate Biopsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Context

Objective

Evidence acquisition

Evidence synthesis

Conclusions

Patient summary

How many cores are enough? Optimizing the transperineal prostate biopsy template

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Most urologists use a 10-12 core template during transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-B). A similar consensus template does not exist for transperineal prostate biopsy (TP-B) including the optimal number and location of biopsy cores. We examined our institutional cohort to develop an optimal systematic template for TP-B.

METHODS

We prospectively monitored our first 200 consecutive free-hand TP-B. These included men who were biopsy naïve (n = 117), had elevated PSA with prior negative biopsy (n = 18), and men on active surveillance (n = 65). All men underwent a 20 core TP-B with each core placed in a separate specimen container. This allowed the 20-core TP-B to be easily broken down as though fewer cores had been taken in each patient. Ten, 12, and 16 core templates were designed a priori and compared within each patient to the 20 core template. The highest Grade Group (GG) at pathologic analysis was assigned to each biopsy. Primary outcome was detection of clinically significant prostate cancer, defined as ≥GG2. Secondary outcome was detection of GG1 prostate cancer. We performed sub-group analyses of biopsy naïve men and biopsy naïve men stratified by PSA density (<0.15 vs. ≥0.15 ng/mL/cc). An historic institutional cohort of 10-12 core TRUS-B (n = 170) was used to compare prostate cancer detection between techniques. P value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Clinically significant cancers were detected in 98 men (49%) using a 20 core TP-B technique. Had we sampled fewer cores we would have identified clinically significant cancers in 93 (47%, 16 core), 91 (46%, 12 core), and 82 (41%, 10 core) men. More clinically significant cancers were detected by the 20 core template compared to the 10 core template for both the whole cohort (49% vs. 41%, P = 0.02) and the biopsy naïve subset (48% vs. 40%, P = 0.05). Additional cores did not result in an increased detection of GG1 cancers (20-core: 35% vs. 10-core: 44%, P = 0.09). Less than one quarter of biopsy naïve men with a PSA density <0.15 were found to have clinically significant cancers. More clinically significant cancers were detected in the 12-core TP-B cohort compared to the 12-core TRUS-B series (46% vs. 38%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A 20 core TP-B systematic biopsy template detected a greater number of clinically significant prostate cancers compared to a 10 core TP template. Cancer detection was similar for 12, 16, and 20 core templates. Higher core numbers did not result in greater detection of GG1 tumors reflecting increased detection of concomitant ≥GG2 with greater sampling. We propose a minimum 12 core systematic biopsy template for men undergoing TP-B.

Comparison of diagnostic efficacy between transrectal and transperineal prostate biopsy: A propensity score-matched study

This study compared the diagnostic efficacy of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy (TRBx) and transperineal prostate biopsy (TPBx) in patients with suspected prostate cancer (PCa). We enrolled 2962 men who underwent transrectal (n = 1216) or transperineal (n = 1746) systematic 12-core prostate biopsy. Clinical data including age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and prostate volume (PV) were recorded. To minimize confounding, we performed propensity score-matching analysis. We measured and compared PCa detection rates between TRBx and TPBx, which were stratified by clinical characteristics and Gleason scores. The effects of clinical characteristics on PCa detection rate were assessed by logistic regression. For all patients, TPBx detected a higher proportion of clinically significant PCa (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses illustrated that PV had a smaller impact on PCa detection rate of TPBx compared with TRBx. Propensity score-matching analysis showed that the detection rates in TRBx were higher than those in TPBx for patients aged >- 80 years (80.4% vs 56.5%, P = 0.004) and with PSA level 20.1-100.0 ng ml^-1 (80.8% vs 69.1%, P = 0.040). In conclusion, TPBx was associated with a higher detection rate of clinically significant PCa than TRBx was; however, because of the high detection rate at certain ages and PSA levels, biopsy approaches should be optimized according to patents' clinical characteristics.

Update on Strategies to Reduce Infectious Complications After Prostate Biopsy

CONTEXT

Prostate biopsy is one of the most performed procedures in urology. As a diagnostic procedure it should be of low risk. However, morbidity following prostate biopsy is common due to infectious complications.

OBJECTIVE

To describe how to reduce infectious complications following prostate biopsy. We report on antibiotic and technical interventions to reduce infectious complications.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The data presented are based on a narrative review. Search in PubMed and Medline was performed until May 2018 with a focus on randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. Articles were reviewed for data on symptomatic infections, hospitalisation, and adverse events.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Antibiotic prophylaxis is the standard of care. However, the duration of antibiotic preemptive treatment is still under debate. The use of augmented antibiotic prophylaxis as well as targeted antibiotic prophylaxis might be of potential value, but evidence is currently limited. Moreover, no antibiotic class was shown to be clearly superior to another. The evaluation of the technical aspects during prostate biopsy reveals that rectal preparation with povidone-iodine is clearly effective to reduce infectious complications. Transperineal biopsy has a potential benefit to reduce infectious complications, but powerful randomised controlled studies are missing. Finally, the number of biopsy cores, the application of periprostatic nerve block, or the use of a cleansing enema has no impact on prostate biopsy in terms of infectious complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The available data only suggest that rectal preparation with povidone-iodine as well as antibiotic prophylaxis is of significant advantage to reduce infectious complications following prostate biopsy. The augmented and targeted antibiotic prophylaxis shows some potential, but need further validation.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this review we evaluate the best management strategy to prevent infectious complications following prostate biopsy. We show that antibiotic prophylaxis is essential for prostate biopsy and that rectal preparation with povidone-iodine is mandatory.

Quality indicators of clinical cancer care for prostate cancer: a population-based study in southern Switzerland

Background

Quality of cancer care (QoCC) has become an important item for providers, regulators and purchasers of care worldwide. Aim of this study is to present the results of some evidence-based quality indicators (QI) for prostate cancer (PC) at the population-based level and to compare the outcomes with data available in the literature.

Methods

The study included all PC diagnosed on a three years period analysis (01.01.2011–31.12.2013) in the population of Canton Ticino (Southern Switzerland) extracted from the Ticino Cancer Registry database. 13 QI, approved through the validated Delphi methodology, were calculated using the “available case” approach: 2 for diagnosis, 4 for pathology, 6 for treatment and 1 for outcome. The selection of the computed QI was based on the availability of medical documentation. QI are presented as proportion (%) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval.

Results

700 PC were detected during the three-year period 2011–2013: 78.3% of them were diagnosed through a prostatic biopsy and for 72.5% 8 or more biopsy cores were taken. 46.5% of the low risk PC patients underwent active surveillance, while 69.2% of high risk PC underwent a radical treatment (radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy or brachytherapy) and 73.5% of patients with metastatic PC were treated with hormonal therapy. The overall 30-day postoperative mortality was 0.5%.

Conclusions

Results emerging from this study on the QoCC for PC in Canton Ticino are encouraging: the choice of treatment modalities seems to respect the international guidelines and our results are comparable to the scarce number of available international studies. Additional national and international standardisation of the QI and further QI population-based studies are needed in order to get a real picture of the PC diagnostic-therapeutic process progress through the definition of thresholds of minimal standard of care.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4604-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Optimal biopsy strategy for prostate cancer detection by performing a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective: With the increasing recognition of the over-diagnosis and over-treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), the choice of a better prostate biopsy strategy had confused both the patients and clinical surgeons. Hence, this network meta-analysis was conducted to clarify this question. Methods: In the current network meta-analysis, twenty eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 4,571 participants were comprehensively identified through Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science databases up to July 2017. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% credible interval (CrI) was calculated by Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted by using R-3.4.0 software with the help of package "gemtc" version 0.8.2. Results: Six different PCa biopsy strategies and four clinical outcomes were ultimately analyzed in this study. Although, the efficacy of different PCa biopsy strategies by ORs with corresponding 95% CrIs had not yet reached statistical differences, the cumulative rank probability indicated that overall PCa detection rate from best to worst was FUS-GB plus TRUS-GB, FUS-GB, CEUS, MRI-GB, TRUS-GB and TPUS-GB. In terms of clinically significant PCa detection, CEUS, FUS-GB or FUS-GB plus TRUS-GB had a higher, whereas TRUS-GB or TPUS-GB had a relatively lower significant detection rate. Meanwhile, TPUS-GB or TRUS-GB had a higher insignificant PCa detection rate. As for TRUS-guided biopsy, the general trend was that the more biopsy cores, the higher overall PCa detection rate. As for targeted biopsy, it could yield a comparable or even a better effect with fewer cores, compared with traditional random biopsy. Conclusion: Taken together, in a comprehensive consideration of four clinical outcomes, our outcomes shed light on that FUS-GB or FUS-GB plus TRUS-GB showed their superiority, compared with other puncture methods in the detection of PCa. Moreover, TPUS or TRUS-GB was more easily associated with the over-diagnosis and over-treatment of PCa. In addition, targeted biopsy was obviously more effective than traditional random biopsy. The subsequent RCTs with larger sample sizes were required to validate our findings.

Evaluation of MR imaging-targeted biopsies of the prostate in biopsy-naïve patients. A single centre study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the differences in prostate cancer detection rate and biopsy effectiveness between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) target biopsy (TB) and transperineal standard biopsy (SB) in biopsy-naïve patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between October 2014 and April 2016, 60 men with a mean age of 64.1±6.7 (SD) years (range: 53-82 years) were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent a prostate MRI study, evaluated by two radiologists, before undergoing the biopsy. A transperineal 12-core SB was carried out before TB, without the information from the MRI. The detection rate for all tumors and for clinically significant tumors (CS) was recorded. Sampling variables such as the proportion of cores positive for CS cancer (PCP-CS) and the maximum cancer core length (MCCL) were also calculated. The ability of MRI to predict the presence of a CS tumor at biopsy was studied using a sector analysis. Patients with negative biopsies were followed during a minimum of 12 months.

RESULTS

The detection rate for SB and TB was 53.3% (32/60) and 46.7% (28/60) respectively for all tumors (P=0.289) and 45% (27/60) in both techniques for CS tumors. TB obtained a larger PCP-CS (P<0.001) and MCCL (P=0.018). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and cancer prevalence was 83.3%, 92.9%, 83.3%, 92.9% and 30% for peripheral zone sectors and 43.8%, 97.1%, 70.0%, 91.8% and 13,3% for transitional zone sectors. The proportion of patients that showed an increase of PSA faster than 0.75ng/mL/year after a negative biopsy was 26.1%.

CONCLUSION

Detection rate of prostate cancer did not show significant differences between a TB and a SB technique in biopsy-naïve patients. However, targeted prostate biopsies demonstrated a better sampling effectiveness thus reducing the cores needed to diagnose clinically significant tumors.

Diagnostic Value of Different Systematic Prostate Biopsy Methods in the Detection of Prostate Cancer with Ultrasonographic Hypoechoic Lesions--A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess if a less extended biopsy in the transperineal approach is sufficient for detection of prostate cancer (PC) in patients with hypoechoic lesions.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of 167 consecutive patients with prostate hypoechoic lesion and who underwent transperineal ultrasound (TPUS)-guided 12-core and hypoechoic lesion core biopsy between January 2012 and February 2013.

RESULTS

PC was detected in 64.1% (107/167) of patients. The PC detection rate of the 12-core prostate biopsy scheme was the highest, but when including the hypoechoic lesion core, there was no difference between the 6- and 12-core schemes (all p > 0.05), irrespective of prostate volume or prostate-specific antigen levels (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A more limited biopsy scheme could be sufficient for the detection of PC if the hypoechoic lesion is sampled.

Transperineal biopsy prostate cancer detection in first biopsy and repeat biopsy after negative transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy: the Victorian Transperineal Biopsy Collaboration experience

OBJECTIVES

To present the Victorian Transperineal Biopsy Collaboration (VTBC) experience in patients with no prior prostate cancer diagnosis, assessing the cancer detection rate, pathological outcomes and anatomical distribution of cancer within the prostate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

VTBC was established through partnership between urologists performing transperineal biopsies of the prostate (TPB) at three institutions in Melbourne. Consecutive patients who had TPB, as first biopsy or repeat biopsy after previous negative transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy, between September 2009 and September 2013 in the VTBC database were included. Data for each patient were collected prospectively (except for TPB before 2011 in one institution), based on the minimum dataset published by the Ginsburg Study Group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors predictive of cancer detection on TPB.

RESULTS

In all, 160 patients were included in the study, of whom 57 had TPB as first biopsy and 103 had TPB as repeat biopsy after previous negative TRUS biopsies. The median patient age at TPB was 63 years, with the repeat-biopsy patients having a higher median serum PSA level (5.8 ng/mL for first biopsy and 9.6 ng/mL for repeat biopsy) and larger prostate volumes (40 mL for first biopsy, and 51 mL for repeat biopsy). Prostate cancer was detected in 53% of first-biopsy patients and 36% of repeat-biopsy patients, of which 87% and 81%, respectively, were clinically significant cancers, defined as a Gleason score of ≥7, or more than three positive cores of Gleason 6. Of the cancers detected in repeat biopsies, 75% involved the anterior region (based on the Ginsburg Study Group's recommended biopsy map), while 25% were confined exclusively within the anterior region; a lower proportion of only 5% of cancers detected in first biopsies were confined exclusively within the anterior region. Age, serum PSA level and prostate volume were predictive of cancer detection in repeat biopsies, while only age was predictive in first biopsies.

CONCLUSIONS

TPB is an alternative approach to TRUS biopsy of the prostate, offering a high rate of detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. It provides excellent sampling of the anterior region of the prostate, which is often under-sampled using the TRUS approach, and should be considered as an option for all men in whom a prostate biopsy is indicated.

Role of transperineal template biopsy in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common neoplasm diagnosed in men. Whilst treatment modalities have progressed, diagnostic investigations in terms of biopsy methods have been assessed but there is no consensus of when the different diagnostic methods in terms of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) or transperineal template (TPT) should be utilised. TPT biopsy has a higher diagnostic yield than TRUS in those with a primary biopsy, in those with previous negative biopsies with TRUS as well as those undergoing saturation biopsies. Despite the increased likelihood of diagnosing cancer with TPT than TRUS this maybe secondary to the increased number of biopsies being utilised. However there is no consensus regarding the ideal number of biopsies that should be utilised with TPT. Furthermore it is felt that the increased number of biopsies utilised with TPT is associated the higher complication rates with TPT. The role of TPT biopsy is recognised in those with previous negative biopsies with transrectal ultrasound but further work is required regarding the ideal number of biopsies. Furthermore, it is felt that TPT biopsy may have a role in primary biopsy.

Transperineal ultrasound-guided 12-core prostate biopsy: an extended approach to diagnose transition zone prostate tumors

Objective

Transperineal ultrasound-guided (TPUS) 12-core prostate biopsy was evaluated as an initial strategy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, The distribution of prostate cancer lesions was assessed with zone-specific biopsy.

Methods

From January 2010 to December 2012, 287 patients underwent TPUS-guided 12-core prostate biopsy. Multiple cores were obtained from both the peripheral zone (PZ) and the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate. Participants' clinical data and the diagnostic yield of the cores were recorded and prospectively analyzed as a cross-sectional study.

Results

The diagnostic yield of the 12-core prostate biopsy was significantly higher compared to the 6-core scheme (42.16 vs. 21.6%). The diagnostic yield of the 10-core prostate biopsy was significantly higher compared to the 6-core scheme (37.6 vs. 21.6%). The 12-core scheme improved the diagnostic yield in prostates >50 ml (12-core scheme: 28.1% vs. 10-core scheme: 20.4%; p = 0.034).

Conclusions

The 12-core biopsy scheme is a safe and effective approach for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. TZ biopsies in patients with larger prostates should be included in the initial biopsy strategy.

Transperineal biopsy of the prostate--is this the future?

Transperineal prostate biopsy is re-emerging after decades of being an underused alternative to transrectal biopsy guided by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Factors driving this change include possible improved cancer detection rates, improved sampling of the anteroapical regions of the prostate, a reduced risk of false negative results and a reduced risk of underestimating disease volume and grade. The increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance and patients with diabetes mellitus who are at high risk of sepsis also favours transperineal biopsy as a sterile alternative to standard TRUS-guided biopsy. Factors limiting its use include increased time, training and financial constraints as well as the need for high-grade anaesthesia. Furthermore, the necessary equipment for transperineal biopsy is not widely available. However, the expansion of transperineal biopsy has been propagated by the increase in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsies, which often use the transperineal approach. Used with MRI imaging, transperineal biopsy has led to improvements in cancer detection rates, more-accurate grading of cancer severity and reduced risk of diagnosing clinically insignificant disease. Targeted biopsy under MRI guidance can reduce the number of cores required, reducing the risk of complications from needle biopsy.

Knife or needles? A cohort analysis of outcomes after radical prostatectomy or brachytherapy for men with low- or intermediate-risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes for men with early stage prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or brachytherapy (BT) at a single tertiary care center.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 371 men with clinical T1a-T2c disease with prostate-specific antigen level <20 ng/mL and Gleason score (GS) 6-7 who were treated with RP (n=279) or BT (n=92) at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2000-2001. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) and prostate cancer-specific survival rates were compared by treatment modality.

RESULTS

The median followup time was 7.2 and 7.6 years for patients treated with RP and BT, respectively. Disease was upgraded from GS 6 to 7 after central review of the biopsy specimen for 36 men treated with RP (12.9%) and 15 men treated with BT (16.3%). After RP, GS was upgraded in 121 men (43.4%) between the centrally reviewed biopsy and the RP specimen. After RP, 5-year BRFS rates were 96.1% and 90.6% for low- and intermediate-risk disease, respectively (p=0.003). After BT, 5-year BRFS rates were 92.5% and 95.8% for low- and intermediate-risk disease, respectively (p=0.017). After RP or BT, 5-year BRFS rates were not significantly different with GS upgraded. Five-year prostate cancer-specific survival rates for patients with upgraded GS were 100% for both RP and BT.

CONCLUSIONS

Excellent disease control outcomes can be achieved after either RP or BT as monotherapy for men with early stage prostate cancer. Upgrading of GS from 6 to 7, either (3+4) or (4+3), did not predict for worse outcomes.

Number of screens for overdetection as an indicator of absolute risk of overdiagnosis in prostate cancer screening

As with wide-spread use of prostate cancer (Pca) screening with prostate-specific antigen testing, overdetection has increasingly gained attention. The authors aimed to estimate absolute risk of overdetection (RO) in Pca screening with various interscreening intervals and ages at start of screening. We estimated age-specific preclinical incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) for progressive cancer (from 128 for age group 55-58 years to 774 for age group 67-71 years) and nonprogressive cancer (from 40 for age group 55-58 years to 66 for age group 67-71 years), the mean sojourn time (7.72 years) and the sensitivity (42.8% at first screen and 59.8% at the second screen) by using a multistep epidemiological model with data from the Finnish randomized controlled trial. The overall number of screens for overdetection (NSO) was 29 (95% confidence interval (CI): 18, 48) for screenees aged 55-67 years, equivalent to 3.4 (95% CI: 2.1, 5.7) overdetected Pcas per 100 screenees. The NSO decreased from 63 (95% CI: 37, 109) at the first screen to 29 (95% CI: 18, 48) at the third screen and from 43 (95% CI: 36, 52) for age 55 years to 25 (95% CI: 8, 75) at age 67 years at the first screen. In conclusion, around 3.4 cases for every 100 screened men would be overdetected during three screen rounds (~ 13 years of follow-up) in the Finnish randomized controlled trial. Elucidating the absolute RO under various scenarios makes contribution for evaluating the benefit and harm of Pca screening.

Caudal analgesia for prostate biopsy

BACKGROUND

Although various local anesthesia techniques have been suggested to decrease pain and discomfort during a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy, the best method has not yet been defined. The present prospective, double-blind, randomized study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of 'walking' caudal block compared with an intrarectal lidocaine gel for this procedure.

METHODS

One hundred patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In the lidocaine gel group, 10 ml of gel containing 2% lidocaine was given intrarectally. In the caudal group, 20 ml 0.1% bupivacaine with 75 microg fentanyl was injected. Pain scores, anal sphincter tone and patient satisfaction were evaluated.

RESULTS

The pain scores were significantly lower in the caudal group at all stages. Verbal rating scores (scale 1-4) during probe insertion, probe maneuver and biopsies were 1 (0-2), 1 (0-2) and 1 (0-2) vs. 3 (0-5), 2 (1-3) and 4 (2-6), respectively (P value <0.0001 at all stages). The anal sphincter was more relaxed in the caudal group than in the gel group (P value <0.0001 in all categories). Highly satisfied patients were more frequently encountered in the caudal group, 34 (68%) vs. 8 (16%), P<0.0001, and unsatisfied patients were more frequently found in the gel group 1 (2%) vs. 12 (24%); P<0.001. All patients were able to walk without any assistance immediately after the procedures.

CONCLUSION

'Walking' caudal analgesia is an efficacious method for relieving the pain during TRUS-guided prostate biopsies in ambulatory practice.

Performance of transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy in detecting prostate cancer in the initial and repeat biopsy setting

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy can miss 20-30% of clinically significant cancers. We evaluate an alternative approach-transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy (TTMB) in the initial and repeat biopsy setting. From January 2005 through September 2008, 373 consecutive men underwent TTMB (294 men with > or =1 prior negative biopsy and 79 men as the initial biopsy). The location of each positive biopsy core, number of positive cores, and percent involvement of each core was recorded. Cancer detection rate for the initial biopsy was 75.9%. For men with 1, 2, and > or =3 prior negative biopsies detection rates were 55.5%, 41.7%, and 34.4%, respectively. In all, 55.5% of the cancers identified were Gleason > or =7. The majority of the cancers were multifocal. There was no significant change in the number of positive cores or Gleason score as the number of prior biopsies increased. The anterior and apical aspects of the prostate were among the most common cancer locations. TTMB provides a high rate of cancer detection as initial and repeat biopsy. TTMB was particularly effective at diagnosing anterior and apical cancer. TTMB may have particular application for men considering active surveillance, with prior negative TRUS biopsies, and those considering subtotal gland or other minimally invasive treatments.

Utility of extended pattern prostate biopsies for tumor localization: pathologic correlations after radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

Focal targeted therapy has been proposed as a potential treatment for localized prostate cancer in an attempt to reduce morbidity. However, these modalities rely heavily on accurate tumor localization to achieve total tumor ablation. In the current study, we sought to examine the ability of contemporary extended pattern prostate biopsy to predict the location of tumors.

METHODS

A total of 281 men with prostate cancer detected via a standardized extended pattern biopsy template with at least 12 cores and who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy were evaluated. Tumor location on biopsy, stratified by laterality and by site (apex vs mid-base prostate), was compared with corresponding locations on the prostatectomy specimen. Generalized estimating equation models were developed to assess the effects of clinical variables on pathologic agreement between biopsy and prostatectomy specimens.

RESULTS

Of the 281 prostate biopsies, the positive predictive value (PPV) of right and left needle biopsy was high at 97.3% and 96.7%, respectively. However, the negative predictive value (NPV) was low at 24.7% and 31.3%, respectively. When more specific locations were considered, the NPV improved at the apex. However, this came at a cost to the PPV. Tumor focality on prostatectomy specimen was the only clinical feature found to be significantly and consistently related to pathologic agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

Contemporary extended pattern prostate biopsy, although able to diagnose cancers, fails to provide reliable localization of tumors to specific areas of the prostate. Focal therapy, which relies heavily on localization, should only be performed with this caveat in mind.

Optimal approach for prostate cancer detection as initial biopsy: prospective randomized study comparing transperineal versus transrectal systematic 12-core biopsy

OBJECTIVES

Transperineal and transrectal prostate biopsy are both used for prostate cancer detection. However, which approach is superior remains unknown. In this study, we performed a prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy of transperineal versus transrectal 12-core initial prostate biopsy.

METHODS

From May 2003 to October 2005, a prospective randomized study of transperineal versus transrectal 12-core biopsy (126 and 120 patients, respectively) was conducted in 246 patients with a prostate-specific antigen level of 4.0 to 20.0 ng/mL. All procedures were performed with the patient in the lithotomy position, with the transperineal and transrectal approach performed with spinal anesthesia (0.5% bupivacaine) or a caudal block (1% lidocaine), respectively. With both approaches, eight biopsy specimens were obtained systematically from the peripheral zone, including the apex, and four from the transition zone.

RESULTS

The cancer detection rate was 42.1% (53 of 126 patients) with the transperineal approach and 48.3% (58 of 120 patients) with the transrectal approach (P = 0.323). For all patients undergoing transperineal and transrectal biopsy, the cancer core rate (cancer core number/biopsy core number) was 13.7% (207 of 1512 cores) and 14.4% (208 of 1440 cores), respectively (P = 0.566). Apart from headache, presumably related to the spinal anesthesia, no significant differences were found in the complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences were found in the cancer detection rate, cancer core rate, or complications between the two approaches. We believe that the preferred approach as an initial prostate biopsy is the transrectal approach, which does not require spinal anesthesia or another burdensome process.

Saturation technique does not decrease cancer detection during followup after initial prostate biopsy

PURPOSE

It has been reported that the prostate cancer detection rate in men with prostate specific antigen 2.5 ng/ml or greater undergoing saturation (20 cores or greater) prostate biopsy as an initial strategy is not higher than that in men who undergo 10 to 12 core prostate biopsy. At a median followup of 3.2 years we report the cancer detection rate on subsequent prostate biopsy in men who underwent initial saturation prostate biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Saturation prostate biopsy was used as an initial biopsy strategy in 257 men between January 2002 and April 2006. Cancer was initially detected in 43% of the patients who underwent saturation prostate biopsy. In the 147 men with negative initial saturation prostate biopsy followup including digital rectal examination and repeat prostate specific antigen measurement was recommended at least annually. Persistently increased prostate specific antigen or an increase in prostate specific antigen was seen as an indication for repeat saturation prostate biopsy.

RESULTS

During the median followup of 3.2 years after negative initial saturation prostate biopsy 121 men (82%) underwent subsequent evaluation with prostate specific antigen and digital rectal examination. Median prostate specific antigen remained 4.0 ng/ml or greater in 57% of the men and it increased by 1 ng/ml or greater in 23%. Cancer was detected in 14 of 59 men (24%) undergoing repeat prostate biopsy for persistent clinical suspicion of prostate cancer. No significant association was demonstrated between cancer detection and initial or followup prostate specific antigen, or findings of atypia and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on initial saturation prostate biopsy. Cancers detected on repeat prostate biopsy were more likely to be Gleason 6 and organ confined at prostatectomy than were those diagnosed on initial saturation prostate biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous experience suggests that, while office based saturation prostate biopsy improves cancer detection in men who have previously undergone a negative prostate biopsy, it does not improve cancer detection as an initial biopsy technique. We now report that the false-negative rate on subsequent prostate biopsy after initial saturation prostate biopsy is equivalent to that following traditional prostate biopsy. These data provide further evidence against saturation prostate biopsy as an initial strategy.

Direct comparison between transrectal and transperineal extended prostate biopsy for the detection of cancer

AIM

To establish whether extended transrectal (TR) and extended transperineal (TP) biopsies are equivalent in detecting prostate cancer.

METHODS

Due to an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) greater than 2.5 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination findings, 783 men underwent a transrectal ultrasound-guided three-dimensional 26-core biopsy, a combination of TR 12-core and TP 14-core biopsies. Using recursive partitioning, the best combination of sampling sites that gave the highest cancer detection rate at a given number of biopsy cores was selected either with a TR or a TP approach. The cancer detection rate and characteristics of detected cancers were compared between the TP 14-core and the TR 12-core biopsies and between selected subset biopsy schemes.

RESULTS

Prostate cancer was detected in 283 of the 783 men (36%). There was no statistical difference in cancer detection rate or in the characteristics of detected cancers between TP 14-core and TR 12-core biopsies. As far as the best combination of sampling sites was selected, there was no statistical difference in cancer detection rates or in the characteristics of detected cancers between the TP and the TR subset biopsy schemes up to 12 cores. TP and TR biopsies performed equally, regardless of a history of negative biopsy, a digital rectal examination finding, the PSA level or the prostate volume.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated for the first time that extended TP biopsy is as effective as its TR counterpart in detecting cancer and the characteristics of detected cancers, as far as sampling sites are selected to maximize the cancer detection rate.

Transperineal ultrasound-guided saturation biopsies using 11-region template of prostate: report of 303 cases

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prostate cancer detection rate and safety of transperineal ultrasound-guided saturation biopsies of the prostate using an 11-region template of the gland in a Chinese screening population.

METHODS

A total of 303 patients (mean age, 69.7 years) were prospectively enrolled in this study to undergo an 11-region template-guided transperineal saturation biopsy of the prostate. The inclusion criteria included a prostate-specific antigen level of 4.0 ng/mL or greater, suspicious findings on the digital rectal examination, or abnormal prostate gland findings on ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. The median prostate-specific antigen level was 13.7 ng/mL (range, 0.2 to 100), and the median prostate volume was 47.0 cm3 (range, 7 to 190).

RESULTS

A mean of 23.7 cores (range, 11 to 44) were obtained, with an overall prostate cancer detection rate of 37.6% (114 of 303). The cancer detection rate in the groups with a prostate-specific antigen level of 0 to 4.0, 4.1 to 10.0, 10.1 to 20.0, 20.1 to 30.0, 30.1 to 70.0, and greater than 70.1 ng/mL was 22.2% (4 of 18), 8.2% (6 of 73), 21.6% (22 of 102), 48.4% (15 of 31), 68.4% (26 of 38), and 100% (41 of 41), respectively. No serious complications occurred during the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Transperineal ultrasound-guided saturation biopsy of the prostate is safe and feasible. Moreover, the application of an 11-region template of the prostate resulted in an encouraging cancer detection rate.

Values for free/total prostate-specific antigen ratio as a function of age: necessity of reference validation in a Turkish population

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate age-related changes in free/total prostate-specific antigen (f/t PSA) ratio, focusing on the avoidance of unnecessary prostate biopsies.

METHODS

A total of 898 men aged 30-88 years without a history of prostate surgery and disease were enrolled into the study. Serum tPSA, fPSA and f/t PSA ratios were determined for the study population and for different age categories. All males who had suspicious digital rectal examination and tPSA >4 ng/mL underwent transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each group were generated by plotting the sensitivity vs. 1-specificity for the f/t PSA ratio. The sensitivity and specificity were obtained using different f/t PSA ratio cutoffs for different age groups.

RESULTS

Prostate cancer was detected in 63 patients (7%). Age-specific cutoffs were determined according to likelihood ratios at the levels of 10%, 15% and 15% f/t PSA ratio for ages 50-59, 60-69 and >/=70 years, respectively. However, a single cutoff of 10% is recommended across all age ranges (positive likelihood ratio 2.36). ROC curves demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) was significant for all patients with initial PSA of 4-10 ng/mL (AUC 0.703-0.796), except for the >/=70-year age group (AUC 0.549).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed that the use of f/t PSA ratio in patients with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL should enhance the specificity of PSA screening and decrease the number of unnecessary biopsies. f/t PSA levels may show dissimilarities according to age and ethnicity, so further studies are warranted to identify this relationship.

Hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-6 in combination with prostate volume are possible prostate cancer tumor markers in patients with gray-zone PSA levels

The aim was to assess whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin (IL)-6 in combination with prostate volume are able to accurately detect prostate cancer in patients with gray-zone prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. A total of 159 patients with PSA levels of <10 ng ml(-1) were enrolled. Forty-two (35.3%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer, whereas 117 (64.7%) had no cancer and were used as benign group. HGF and IL-6 density (HGFD and IL-6D, respectively) values were calculated by dividing serum HGF and IL-6 levels with prostate volume. Median IL-6 (2.3 pg ml(-1)) levels for the prostate cancer group were significantly higher than those for the benign group before adjustment for age (1.7 pg ml(-1)) (P=0.0098). After age adjustments, median IL-6 (2.17 pg ml(-1)), HGFD (0.00972 ng ml(-1) cm(-3)), and IL-6D (0.0848 pg ml(-1) cm(-3)) values for the prostate cancer group were significantly higher than those for the benign group (IL-6, 1.78 pg ml(-1); HGFD, 0.00732 ng/ml/cc; and IL-6D, 0.049 pg/ml/cc; P=0.0416, 0.007 and 0.0005, respectively). In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the areas under the curves for HGFD (0.64) and IL-6D (0.68) were significantly greater than those for HGF (0.52) and IL-6 (0.61) (P=0.0006 and 0.019, respectively). With an HGFD cutoff value of 0.00392 ng ml(-1) cm(-3) (sensitivity=100%, specificity=11%), 11.1% of the benign group were able to avoid unnecessary biopsies without missing prostate cancer. HGF and IL-6 levels in combination with prostate volume were shown to be useful parameters for prostate cancer screening in patients with gray-zone PSA levels.

Transperineal TRUS-Guided Prostate Biopsy

Prostate biopsy can be performed through different approaches, with several differences in patient preparation, procedural technique and post-biopsy patient management. On the basis of our personal experience, and comparing it with literature data, this paper presents our data reviews regarding enema and antibiotic prophylaxis administration, biopsy technique, prostate sampling, core pathological management and post-operative management. We also provide a possible standardization of these procedures in patients undergoing transperineal TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. We accordingly classify antibiotic prophylaxis and bowel preparation as optional/advisable, ultrasound prostate examination before biopsy and local anaesthesia as recommended. Prostate sampling should be performed with at least 8 cores, to be increased proportionally to prostate volume. Each sample should be sent to the pathologist in single containers, according to the pre-embedding sandwich method. Finally, the patient should be evaluated for early complications before discharging, and for delayed complications within one month after the procedure. (Urologia 2007; 74: 1–7)

Re-biopsy of the Prostate Using a Stereotactic Transperineal Technique

PURPOSE

In this study we investigated the detection rate and morbidity of stereotactic transperineal prostate re-biopsy with 3-dimensional mapping for diagnosis of nonpalpable isoechoic occult prostate malignancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 180 consecutive patients with continued increasing total prostate specific antigen and at least 1 prior benign transrectal prostate biopsy underwent stereotactic transperineal prostate biopsy at a single outpatient institution between April 2004 and March 2006. Similar to a prostate brachytherapy procedure, patients were placed in the dorsal lithotomy position. With the patient under general anesthesia, and using transrectal ultrasound, a perineal brachytherapy template and stabilizing device, the prostate was positioned on the implant grid. It was equally divided into 8 sections (octants) according to x and y coordinates on the mid gland axial image. The midplanes of axial and sagittal prostate gland images for each patient determined the x, y and z coordinates that would occupy each octant. Tissue cores were initially obtained from the apical octants, followed by identical x and y coordinates of the basilar octants. Specimens from each specific octant were placed in 1 of 8 specimen jars and pathological review was reported accordingly.

RESULTS

Stereotactic transperineal prostate biopsy yielded positive biopsies identifying adenocarcinoma in 68 of 180 (38%) patients. Acute urinary retention developed in 18 of 180 (10%) patients requiring an indwelling urinary catheter upon discharge home. In all patients estimated blood loss was less than 5 cc and median pain score was 1 of 10.

CONCLUSIONS

Stereotactic transperineal prostate biopsy is extremely well tolerated and useful for diagnosis of nonpalpable isoechoic occult prostate malignancy. Additionally, stereotactic transperineal prostate biopsy provides comprehensive tissue sampling with accurate 3-dimensional mapping of malignancy in this select group of patients.

Excess cases of prostate cancer and estimated overdiagnosis associated with PSA testing in East Anglia

This study aimed to estimate the extent of 'overdiagnosis' of prostate cancer attributable to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the Cambridge area between 1996 and 2002. Overdiagnosis was defined conceptually as detection of prostate cancer through PSA testing that otherwise would not have been diagnosed within the patient's lifetime. Records of PSA tests in Addenbrookes Hospital were linked to prostate cancer registrations by NHS number. Differences in prostate cancer registration rates between those receiving and not receiving prediagnosis PSA tests were calculated. The proportion of men aged 40 years or over with a prediagnosis PSA test increased from 1.4 to 5.2% from 1996 to 2002. The rate of diagnosis of prostate cancer was 45% higher (rate ratios (RR)=1.45, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.02-2.07) in men with a history of prediagnosis PSA testing. Assuming average lead times of 5-10 years, 40-98% [corrected] of the PSA-detected cases were estimated to be overdiagnosed. In East Anglia, from 1996 to 2000, a 1.6% excess of cases was associated with PSA testing (around a quarter of the 5.3% excess incidence cases observed in East Anglia from 1996 to 2000). Further quantification of the overdiagnosis will result from continued surveillance and from linkage of incidence to testing in other hospitals.

Diagnostic value of systematic biopsy methods in the investigation of prostate cancer: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Several new extended prostate biopsy schemes (greater than 6 cores) have been proposed. We compared the cancer detection rates and complications of different extended prostate biopsy schemes for diagnostic evaluation in men scheduled for biopsy to identify the optimal scheme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a systematic review we searched 13 electronic databases, screened relevant urological journals and the reference lists of included studies, and contacted experts. We included studies that compared different systematic prostate biopsy methods using sequential sampling or a randomized design in men scheduled for biopsy due to suspected prostate cancer. We pooled data using a random effects model when appropriate.

RESULTS

We analyzed 87 studies with a total of 20,698 patients. We pooled data from 68 studies comparing a total of 94 extended schemes with the standard sextant scheme. An increasing number of cores were significantly associated with the cancer yield. Laterally directed cores increased the yield significantly (p = 0.003), whereas centrally directed cores did not. Schemes with 12 cores that took additional laterally directed cores detected 31% more cancers (95% CI 25 to 37) than the sextant scheme. Schemes with 18 to 24 cores did not detect significantly more cancers. Adverse events for schemes up to 12 cores were similar to those for the sextant pattern. Adverse event reporting was poor for schemes with 18 to 24 cores.

CONCLUSIONS

Prostate biopsy schemes consisting of 12 cores that add laterally directed cores to the standard sextant scheme strike the balance between the cancer detection rate and adverse events. Taking more than 12 cores added no significant benefit.

Increased accuracy of biopsy Gleason score obtained by extended needle biopsy

PURPOSE

Accurate tumor grading is critical for adequate prostate cancer treatment. Nonetheless, the Gleason score of standard sextant biopsy correctly predicts the Gleason score of the radical prostatectomy specimen in about 50% of cases. We investigated if extended needle biopsy could improve biopsy Gleason score accuracy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Laparoscopic transperitoneal radical prostatectomy was performed in 135 patients. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 89 cases by standard sextant transrectal (6 to 8 cores) biopsy and in 46 by extended needle (12 core transperineal under transrectal guidance) biopsy. Preoperative evaluation included digital rectal examination, prostatic specific antigen measurement, transrectal ultrasonography and endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging in all patients. All biopsy and prostatectomy specimens were reviewed by a single pathologist.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. The concordance between prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy Gleason score was 32 of 46 cases (70%) and 44 of 89 (49%) for 12 core and standard transrectal biopsy, respectively (z test p = 0.0127). Biopsy under grading was found in 11 of 46 cases (24%) and 35 of 89 (39%) (z test p = 0.0366), and biopsy over grading was found in 3 of 46 (6%) and 10 of 89 (11%) (z test p = 0.1894) with 12 core and standard transrectal biopsy, respectively. Primary Gleason pattern was predicted exactly by biopsy in 40 of 46 cases (87%) and 56 of 89 (63%) with 12 core and standard sextant biopsy, respectively (z test p = 0.0018).

CONCLUSIONS

Extended needle biopsy significantly increases the accuracy of biopsy Gleason score for assessing final prostate cancer grade.

Role of transperineal six-core prostate biopsy in patients with prostate-specific antigen level greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal digital rectal examination findings

OBJECTIVES

To define whether six-core biopsies still have a role in patients presenting with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings. Recent studies have suggested that the six-core biopsy is inadequate for the diagnosis of prostate cancer; however, it remains controversial whether an increased number of cores is justified in all patients.

METHODS

From June 2002 to February 2005, 122 (18.8%) of 650 patients underwent prostate biopsy because of a PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings. All patients underwent transperineal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy in a standardized fashion: a six-core biopsy was performed first, followed by six additional cores during the same session, four in the peripheral and two in the transition zone.

RESULTS

The detection rate in patients with a PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings was 72.1% (88 of 122) and 75.4% (92 of 122) using the 6-core and 12-core biopsy, respectively. One case of tumor was missed by the six-core biopsy among patients with a PSA level greater than 15 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings. No cases of tumor were missed by six-core biopsy in the group with a PSA level greater than 20 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Six-core biopsy provided a similar cancer detection rate compared with 12-core biopsy in patients with PSA levels greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings. An initial approach with 6-core biopsy is reasonable in patients with a PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings and is advocated in those with PSA greater than 20 ng/mL and abnormal DRE findings.

Saturation technique does not improve cancer detection as an initial prostate biopsy strategy

PURPOSE

We reported on the results of a sequential cohort study comparing office based saturation prostate biopsy to traditional 10-core sampling as an initial biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on improved cancer detection of office based saturation prostate biopsy repeat biopsy, we adopted the technique as an initial biopsy strategy to improve cancer detection. Two surgeons performed 24-core saturation prostate biopsies in 139 patients undergoing initial biopsy under periprostatic local anesthesia. Indication for biopsy was an increased PSA of 2.5 ng/dl or greater in all patients. Results were compared to those of 87 patients who had previously undergone 10-core initial biopsies.

RESULTS

Cancer was detected in 62 of 139 patients (44.6%) who underwent saturation biopsy and in 45 of 87 patients (51.7%) who underwent 10-core biopsy (p >0.9). Breakdown by PSA level failed to show benefit to the saturation technique for any degree PSA increase. Men with PSA 2.5 to 9.9 ng/dl were found to have cancer in 53 of 122 (43.4%) saturation biopsies and 26 of 58 (44.8%) 10-core biopsies. Complications included 3 cases of prostatitis in each group. Rectal bleeding was troublesome enough to require evaluation only in 3 men in the saturation group and 1 in the 10-core group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although saturation prostate biopsy improves cancer detection in men with suspicion of cancer following a negative biopsy, it does not appear to offer benefit as an initial biopsy technique. These findings suggest that further efforts at extended biopsy strategies beyond 10 to 12 cores are not appropriate as an initial biopsy strategy.

Development of a nomogram to predict probability of positive initial prostate biopsy among Japanese patients

OBJECTIVES

Several nomograms for prostate cancer detection have recently been developed. Because the incidence of prostate cancer is lower among Asian men, nomograms based on Western populations cannot be directly applied to Japanese men. We, therefore, developed a model for predicting the probability of a positive initial prostate biopsy using clinical and laboratory data from a Japanese male population.

METHODS

Data were collected from 834 Japanese male referrals who underwent initial prostate biopsies as individual screening. We analyzed age, total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, free/total PSA (f/t PSA) ratio, prostate volume, and digital rectal examination findings. Of these data, we randomly reserved 20% for study validation. Logistic regression analysis estimated relative risk, 95% confidence intervals, and P values.

RESULTS

Independent predictors of a positive biopsy result included elevated PSA levels, decreased f/T PSA ratio, advanced age, small prostate volume, and abnormal digital rectal examination findings. We developed a predictive nomogram for an initial positive biopsy using these variables. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the model was 81.8%, which was significantly greater than that of the prediction based on PSA alone (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 67.8%). If externally validated, applying this model could reduce unnecessary biopsy procedures by 32% and reduce the overall need for prostate biopsies by 26%.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of a Japanese population, incorporating clinical and laboratory data into a prebiopsy nomogram significantly improved the prediction of prostate cancer compared with predictions based solely on the individual factors.

The Potential Impact of Prostate Volume in the Planning of Optimal Number of Cores in the Systematic Transperineal Prostate Biopsy

OBJECTIVES

We compared the detection rates of different transperineal prostate biopsy protocols with the aim to optimize the number of cores to sample according to prostate volume.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From October 2002 to October 2004 we evaluated 480 consecutive patients with PSA between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml undergoing the first set of prostate biopsy. All patients underwent a 14-core TRUS-guided transperineal prostate biopsy, including 12 cores in the peripheral and two in the transitional zone. The detection rate of the 14-core scheme was compared to the one of the other biopsy schemes obtained through the exclusion of pairs of cores. Data were stratified according to the different TRUS estimated prostate volumes.

RESULTS

The detection rate of the standard sextant was 35.2%, while those of the 8-core schemes ranged from 37.1 to 38.8%. The 10-core schemes yielded detection rates of 39.6-40.8% and the protocol with 12 biopsies in the peripheral zone diagnosed prostate cancer in 42.1% of the patients. In patients with <30 cc prostate volume, the detection rate of the 14-core scheme was 43.8% and resulted statistically overlapping to the 8-peripheral cores protocol. In patients with 30.1-50 cc prostate volume a 12-peripheral core biopsy reproduced the results of the 14-core sampling. In prostates larger than 50 cc, an even more extensive procedure was mandatory, considering the low detection rate of the 14-core scheme (24.2%).

CONCLUSION

Transperineal prostate biopsy is a safe procedure with a very low complication rate and high cancer detection rate. Prostate volume is the most relevant variable in the planning of the optimal number of cores in the extensive first biopsy set. A protocol with more than 8 peripheral cores) is recommended only in patients with prostate volume larger than 30 cc.

Cancer core distribution in patients diagnosed by extended transperineal prostate biopsy

OBJECTIVES

To perform systemic 22-core transperineal ultrasound-guided template prostate biopsies in patients with previous negative transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy findings and evaluate the cancer core distribution.

METHODS

Between April 2001 and December 2003, 128 men underwent systemic ultrasound-guided biopsy using the transperineal template technique. All patients had undergone at least one previous set of biopsies. Prostate biopsy was performed transperineally using an 18-gauge biopsy needle driven by a spring-loaded device. Four biopsies were obtained anterior to posterior from each of four coronal planes in the mid-region, and three biopsies were obtained anterior to posterior from each of two coronal planes in the apical region.

RESULTS

Of the 128 patients, 29 (22.7%) had cancer according to an extended transperineal biopsy. Patients with prostate cancer had significantly greater prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (11.4 versus 7.6 ng/mL, P = 0.0125), smaller transition zone volumes (12.7 versus 21.2 cm3, P = 0.0012), smaller prostate glands (31.5 versus 44.0 cm3, P = 0.0015), and greater PSA density (0.36 versus 0.19 ng/mL/cm3, P < 0.0001). The cancer core rates in the mid and apical parts of the anterior region (5.3% and 8.0%) were significantly greater than in the mid and apical parts of the posterior region (3.3% and 3.6%, P = 0.0297 and P = 0.0132, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study have shown that transperineal approaches are appropriate for sampling from the anterior half of the prostate gland. In patients in whom the diagnosis of prostate cancer is suspected, we believe that systemic 22-core transperineal ultrasound-guided template prostate biopsy might be the next optional diagnostic step after an initial negative prostate biopsy.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is a useful modality for the precise detection and staging of early prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to visualize early stage prostate cancer (Cap) in a clinical setting. In previous studies, the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for screening Cap have rarely been confirmed by well-designed multisite prostate biopsy.

METHODS

The prostate glands of 90 men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were imaged by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) before transrectal ultrasound-guided 14-cores prostate biopsy. Each core was divided into three subcore fractions (total of 42 fractions) to generate a histological localization diagram, which was compared with localization-visualized DCE-MRI.

RESULTS

The detection rate of Cap in 57 patients with PSA < 10.0 ng/ml was 36.8% as determined by the initial biopsy. DCE-MRI uncovered 92.9% of the clinically significant Caps and its specificity was 96.2% for the first biopsy session. One case with positive DCE-MRI and a negative primary biopsy was positive with additional biopsies. All of 26 DCE-MRI positive cases had significant Cap, and two of eight patients with histological Cap and negative or equivocal imaging had significant cancer. In total, 9 of 20 cases with DCE-MRI stage T2 underwent radical prostatectomy. All of them had organ-confined disease, although 33-77% (mean 63%) of them were expected to be rated T3 or higher by Partin's table.

CONCLUSIONS

DCE-MRI can identify early stage Cap with high sensitivity and specificity, and can predict the histological grade to some extent. DCE-MRI prior to biopsy should be applied to younger patients with surgical indications. Otherwise, we recommend the definitive diagnosis of Cap by utilizing DCE-MRI alone.

Metastase eines Prostatakarzinoms in der Lamina submucosa des distalen Rektums bei Colitis ulcerosa

Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is the standard technique to detect prostate cancer histologically. Based on a few case reports, it is known that prostate biopsy can cause a seeding of tumor cells. We report the case of a 64-year-old man who 2 years after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer underwent proctocolectomy because of ulcerative pancolitis. In the lamina submucosa of the distal rectum a micrometastasis of the prostate cancer was found. A possible reason for this metastasis is an implantation of prostate cancer cells due to the transrectal biopsy of the prostate.