PROSTATE BIOPSY SAMPLE ASSISTS DIAGNOSIS

Prostate cancer has become a focus of new interest as the population a ges and the death rate due to cardiovascular disease decreases. Patien ts with abnormalities in digital rectal examination, prostate-specific antigen, or ultrasound are evaluated with biopsies. In addition to cy topathologic or histopathologic diagnosis, a biopsy sample can be used to obtain prognostic information by applying flow cytometry or image analysis to determine ploidy. Aspirate samples are suitable for DNA an alysis by flow cytometry, and smears are suitable for image analysts. Tissue samples may be used to make nuclear suspensions suitable for fl ow cytometry or for image analysis. Sections of paraffin-embedded tiss ue may be used for image analysis. This article reviews techniques for analysis of small prostate specimens using these methods. In addition , prostate biopsy techniques are presented, including digitally guided core needle biopsy, ultrasonographically guided needle biopsy, and di gitally guided fine needle aspiration cytology.