Complications and risk factors of transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsies of the prostate evaluated by questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsies are routinely performed to diagnose and stage prostate cancer. We prospectively evaluated the safety, morbidity, and complication rate.


METHODS
We studied 336 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy. A post-biopsy questionnaire was sent to the patients 4 weeks after biopsy concerning questions about minor complications. Information on major complications was obtained by telephone interview.


RESULTS
There were 2 major and 48 minor complications. The most common complication was hematuria in 6.5% of cases, followed by pain while urinating in 6.0% of cases. There was no statistically significance difference between hematuria and aspirin/thrombolytic drug use (P = 0.170) and between positive microbiology in urine and elevated temperature (P = 0.665).


CONCLUSIONS
Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy is safe for diagnosing prostate cancer with few major and minor complications. Aspirin/thrombolytic drug use in patients' history is no risk factor for hematuria. Positive microbiology in urine before biopsy is no risk factor for a higher infection rate.
Ecke
Thorsten H
TH
Department of Urology, HELIOS Hospital, Bad Saarow, Germany. tho_ecke@hotmail.com
Gunia
Sven
S
Bartel
Peter
P
Hallmann
Steffen
S
Koch
Stefan
S
Ruttloff
Jürgen
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography