Importance of transition zone biopsies in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided prostate systemic biopsies for the first time.
BACKGROUND
We analyze the efficacy of routine transition zone biopsies in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided systemic prostate biopsies for the first time because of a suspicious digital rectal examination or an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.


METHODS
During systemic prostate biopsy two or four additional transition zone biopsies were performed in 192 consecutive patients: in 182 because of a serum PSA concentration >4.1 ng/ml and in 10 because of a suspicious digital rectal examination and a serum PSA level <4.0 ng/ml.


RESULTS
The overall prostate cancer detection rate was 37.5% (72/192). In 24 patients (33.3%), cancer was only detected in the peripheral zone, in 3 (4.2%) only in the transition zone, and in 45 (62.5%) in both zones.


CONCLUSIONS
Transition zone biopsies performed at the first time of systemic prostate biopsy seem to have a low efficacy.
Ishizuka
O
O
Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. ishizuk@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Iijima
K
K
Ishikawa
M
M
Hirakata
S
S
Nagai
T
T
Ueki
T
T
Nishizawa
O
O
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen