[Yield of ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsy in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer in symptomatic patients].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the utility of US-guided transrectal biopsy of the prostate in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer in symptomatic patients and its correlation with the digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA levels and ultrasound findings.


METHODS
From 1994 to 1995, 427 patients with prostatic symptomatology underwent prostatic biopsy. The mean age was 69.1 +/- 8.3 years (range 44 - 89). The criteria for biopsy were abnormal DRE, PSA > 10 ng/ml, abnormal US findings and/or PSA density > 0.15.


RESULTS
Prostate cancer was confirmed in 42% of the patients. The incidence of cancer when DRE was abnormal was 73%, 46% when PSA was > 10 ng/ml and 55% when the US findings were abnormal; 82% for abnormal DRE and PSA > 10 ng/ml, and 84% when the criterion of abnormal US was included. The incidence of cancer when DRE was normal was 16%, 18% when combined with PSA > 10 ng/ml and remained unchanged when combined with the US findings. In patients with normal DRE and PSA between 10 - 30 ng/ml, the incidence of cancer was 14% and 41% for those with PSA > 30 ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
DRE was the best independent predictor of prostate cancer and the combination of abnormal DRE, PSA > 10 ng/ml and abnormal US findings gave the highest detection rate. The incidence of prostate cancer was very low in patients with normal DRE and PSA between 10 - 30 ng/ml, which may be due to the fact that the PSA levels are raised by the non neoplastic changes in the transitional zone in symptomatic patients.
Herranz Amo
F
F
Servicio de Urología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
Verdú Tartajo
F
F
Díez Cordero
J M
JM
Sáiz Carrero
A
A
Lledó García
E
E
Rodríguez Fernández
E
E
Bueno Chomón
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012007:Rectum; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen