Should transition zone biopsies be added to 12-core systematic biopsies of the prostate?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of additional transition zone (TZ) biopsies following 12-core biopsies in the detection and staging of prostate cancer.


METHODS
From October 2006 to March 2007, 199 transrectal sonographic (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies (group 1) in 12 peripheral zones (PZ) were performed. Another 199 consecutive patients (group 2) underwent two TZ biopsies in addition to twelve PZ biopsies from March 2007 to July 2007. Mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, Gleason score, and cancer detection rate of each group were compared. The anatomic distribution of prostate cancer in group 2 was also analyzed.


RESULTS
Prostate cancer was detected in 76 of 199 patients (38.2%) in group 1 and 71 out of 199 patients (35.3%) in group 2. The cancer detection rate, mean PSA level, prostate volume, and Gleason score were not statistically different in the 2 groups. Cancer was detected by additional TZ biopsies alone in just one out of 71 patients (1.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine TZ biopsies following 12-core systematic biopsies are not warranted for the detection of TZ cancer because of their low additional yield.
Hwang
Sung Il
SI
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Lee
Hak Jong
HJ
Cho
Jeong Yeon
JY
Kim
Seung Hyup
SH
Lee
Sang Eun
SE
Byun
Seok-Soo
SS
Hong
Sung Kyu
SK
Choe
Ghee Young
GY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen