[Prostate biopsy: assessment of current indications and techniques]. 2000

C Introini, and P Puppo
UO di Urologia, Ospedale Galliera, Genova.

Following pulmonary carcinoma, prostate cancer in the second leading cause of death due to neoplastic diseases and accounts for approximately 10% of all malignant neoplasms in the european male population. This disease is strictly and age related pathology and as such destined to be increasingly relevant in an ageing general population. The preventive measures and strategies being developed and refined are aimed at diagnosing tumours at an earlier stage and as a consequence increasing life. At this moment in time ultrasound (US) guided transrectal prostate sextant biopsies, described by Hodge as early as 1989, represent the most diffusely employed technique for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Even if transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) markedly increases the US resolution capacity with respect to those obtainable transperineally or suprapubically, initial enthusiasm associated in performing biopsies of hypoechogenic zones for the diagnosis of early prostate cancers weaned after follow-up studies of this technique became available. Studies from different authors reveal how TRUS is inadequate in precisely pin-pointing prostate cancers above all early ones. According to the data published in the literature between 30 and 57% of hypoechogenic lesions discovered at US are not tumours but rather non-neoplastic prostatic tissue diseases such as acute or chronic infections/inflammations, atrophy, infarcts or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasms (PIN). Furthermore, Chang et al. have shown how sextant biopsies have a greater specificity in diagnosing prostate cancer with respect to single biopsies aimed at hypoechogenic areas, these values being 76 and 50% respectively. Having observed how many repeat prostate biopsies revealed the presence of a prostatic carcinoma following an initial negative prostate biopsy in patients with pre-existing elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels has induced many authors to exceed the number samplings, as suggested by Hodge, performed during biopsies. Different diagnostic results obtained by biopsy sampling in different positions and in different numbers (up to a maximum of 18) have recently been compared in different studies. This concept follows the principle that increasing the number of samplings will invariably be associated by an increased diagnostic potential of prostate carcinomas, above all in those "grey zone" patients with PSA values less than 10 ng/ml, thus identifying the prostatic cancer at an earlier stage reducing morbility and correlated mortality, increasing specificity and reducing the quote of unnecessary biopsies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010173 Palpation Application of fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body to determine consistence of parts beneath in physical diagnosis; includes palpation for determining the outlines of organs. Palpations
D011467 Prostate A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the URINARY BLADDER and the URETHRA. It secretes a substance that liquefies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the PUBIC SYMPHYSIS, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the RECTUM. Prostates
D011471 Prostatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PROSTATE. Cancer of Prostate,Prostate Cancer,Cancer of the Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostatic,Prostate Neoplasms,Prostatic Cancer,Cancer, Prostate,Cancer, Prostatic,Cancers, Prostate,Cancers, Prostatic,Neoplasm, Prostate,Neoplasm, Prostatic,Prostate Cancers,Prostate Neoplasm,Prostatic Cancers,Prostatic Neoplasm
D012007 Rectum The distal segment of the LARGE INTESTINE, between the SIGMOID COLON and the ANAL CANAL. Rectums
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D001706 Biopsy Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body. Biopsies
D017430 Prostate-Specific Antigen A glycoprotein that is a kallikrein-like serine proteinase and an esterase, produced by epithelial cells of both normal and malignant prostate tissue. It is an important marker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Kallikrein hK3,gamma-Seminoprotein,hK3 Kallikrein,Prostate Specific Antigen,Semenogelase,Seminin,Kallikrein, hK3,gamma Seminoprotein

Related Publications

C Introini, and P Puppo
June 1982, Canadian Medical Association journal,
C Introini, and P Puppo
January 2019, Therapeutic advances in urology,
C Introini, and P Puppo
February 2002, Seminars in urologic oncology,
C Introini, and P Puppo
December 2006, Archivos espanoles de urologia,
C Introini, and P Puppo
March 2005, Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998),
C Introini, and P Puppo
July 2000, Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine,
C Introini, and P Puppo
June 2018, Heart (British Cardiac Society),
C Introini, and P Puppo
September 2009, Der Pathologe,
C Introini, and P Puppo
January 2003, The Journal of urology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!