Influence of transrectal ultrasound probe on prostate cancer detection in transrectal ultrasound-guided sextant biopsy of prostate.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether end-fire probes increase the prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate. Enhancing the PCa detection rate is the main goal of biopsy protocols. Prostate biopsy is limited by side-fire probes to a longitudinal axis, but end-fire probes allow biopsy cores to also be taken in the transverse section.


METHODS
A total of 2625 patients underwent systematic sextant biopsy in three institutions using the same protocol. Three different ultrasound probes were used-the Kretz Combisone and Bruel & Kjaer side-fire probes and the ATL HDI end-fire probe. We retrospectively evaluated the influence of the probe on the PCa detection rate.


RESULTS
The Kretz probe was used in 384 men, the Bruel & Kjaer probe in 598 men, and the ATL probe in 1643 men. Overall, 35.2% had PCa detected. Analyzing all patients, no statistically significant difference (P = 0.73) was found for the probes, but the subgroup with a prostate-specific antigen level of 4 to 10 ng/mL demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the detection rate using the end-fire probe (31.3% versus 24.5% and 21.5% for the side-fire probes, P = 0.01). Patients with nonpalpable PCa also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in detection with the end-fire probe (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the ultrasound probe is an independent parameter to enhance the PCa detection rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that end-fire probes provide a statistically significant improvement in the PCa detection rate compared with side-fire probes in patients with a prostate-specific antigen level of 4 to 10 ng/mL and nonpalpable disease. The reason could be the facilitated sampling in the most lateral part of the peripheral zone. Our results suggest that the widespread use of end-fire probes for prostate biopsy could enhance the PCa detection rate.
Paul
Roger
R
Department of Urology, Technische Universität Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.
Korzinek
Christian
C
Necknig
Ulrike
U
Niesel
Thomas
T
Alschibaja
Michael
M
Leyh
Herbert
H
Hartung
Rudolf
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood; D010173:Palpation; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen