Morbidity of prostatic biopsy for different biopsy strategies: is there a relation to core number and sampling region?

OBJECTIVE

The standard sextant prostatic biopsy is a safe procedure associated with low morbidity. Newer biopsy protocols suggest an increase in core numbers or sampling in distinct areas. In this respect we investigated the morbidity of different biopsy regimens.

METHODS

Morbidity was assessed using self-administered questionnaires 1 week and 1 month after biopsy in a prospective randomized trial of 405 men with three different biopsy protocols. We compared a sextant biopsy regimen to a 10-core biopsy strategy, as well as patients with a re-biopsy including t-zone sampling. We investigated pain during and after biopsy, gross hematuria, rectal bleeding, hematospermia, fever and chills.

RESULTS

There is a trend towards a more painful biopsy and higher rate of side effects if the number of core samples is increased, this difference did not reach statistical significance. There was no increase in severity of side effects. Regarding the rate and severity of side effects of biopsy strategies to different areas of the prostate we could not find a difference. About 95% of patients would accept a repeat biopsy based on their experience on first biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Morbidity of transrectal prostatic biopsy is low and increasing the number of cores correlates with a minor and statistically not significant increase in the rate of side effects. Transrectal sextant prostatic biopsy and extensive biopsy protocols are generally well tolerated and widely accepted from patients.