[Length of needle and size of prostatic biopsies influence identification of capsular and extracapsular elements].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of the length of prostate biopsies (PB) on identification of prostatic capsule and periprostatic tissue.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out in one center by two urologists during 22 months on 339 consecutive protocols of standardized ten-needle PB (PSA<10ng/ml regardless of digital rectal examination). Pathologic reports were standardized. The conclusion of the pathologic report included the average length of the ten-needle PB (Lm) and the number of prostatic core biopsies on which pathologist identified prostatic capsule and periprostatic tissue (BCI). Protocols of PB were spread in 16 groups depending on the value of Lm in millimeter: [0-1], [1-2], [2-3]... [15-16]. Relationship between Lm's and BCI's was evaluated using the linear regression and the correlation coefficient (r).


RESULTS
Average Lm=10.7 (2.1-15.7; s=2.3) (n=339). Average BCI=6.6 (0-10; s=2.3) (n=339). The value of IGap increased when the value of Lm increased (r=0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
The pathologists better identify the capsule of the prostate and the periprostatic tissue when the PB's are of large size. PB's of small size are of poor quality either for samplings of the prostatic gland or samplings of the capsule and the periprostatic tissues.
Mondet
F
F
Cabinet d'urologie des Alpes-du-Sud, polyclinique des Alpes-du-Sud, 3-5, rue Antonin-Coronat, 05000 Gap, France. fabrice.mondet@wanadoo.fr
Oddou
J-H
JH
Boyer
C
C
Corsois
L
L
Collomb
D
D
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis