ASSESSMENT VALUE OF EXTENDED (21-SAMPLE) PROSTATE BIOPSY IN INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER
The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 6-, 12-, 18- and 21-sample prostate biopsy as initial diagnostic procedure for detection of prostate cancer. In 120 consecutive patients with suspected prostate cancer (PC), due to the elevated level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) more than 2.5 ng/ml, 21-sample prostate biopsy (PB) was carried out as an initial diagnostic procedure. Patients with suspected localized prostate cancer should undergo a 12-sample biopsy from the lateral peripheral zones. Transitory zone biopsies improve the diagnostic yield by 6%. In patients with abnormal digital rectal examination and/or PSA ≥20 ng/ml, a 6-sample lateral peripheral zones biopsy scheme is sufficient. A routine use of midline peripheral zone biopsies (21-sample) has not proved to be adequate as initial diagnostic strategy in PC identification.