Morbidity and discomfort of ten-core biopsy of the prostate evaluated by questionnaire

Transition zone biopsies have been found to increase the detection rates of cancer of the prostate in patients with negative digital rectal examinatio n. There are however no data available whether the higher biopsy rate is as sociated with greater morbidity. The present study was therefore designed t o evaluate the complication rate of extended sextant biopsy. In this prospe ctive study, 162 consecutive patients who presented for prostatic evaluatio n were included. After starting prophylactic antibiotic treatment 48 h prio r to the procedure, transrectal ultrasound-guided core biopsies were obtain ed from each robe: three each from the peripheral zone (apex, midzone and b ase) and two from the transition zone of each prostatic robe. In all patien ts a questionnaire was obtained 10-12 days after the procedure. Major compl ications occurred in 3 patients. In 2 of the 3 cases major macroscopic hema turia was treated by an indwelling catheter for 1 or 2 days and 1 patient d eveloped fever > 38.5 degreesC for 1 day. Minor macroscopic hematuria was p resent in 68.5% of the patients. In 17.9% of these cases, the hematuria las ted for more than 3 days. Hematospermia was observed in 19.8% and minor rec tal bleeding occurred in 4.9%. Ten-core biopsies did not lead to an increas e in adverse effects or complications when compared to the results of sexta nt biopsies reported in the literature. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Ba sel.