Sampling, submission, and report format for multiple prostate biopsies: a 1999 survey

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pathology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Significant variation exists in the sampling, submission, and reporting of prostate biopsies.
• Current practice standards among US physicians are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate current practices and physician preferences regarding prostate biopsy sampling and reporting.
• To identify variations in how urologists and pathologists handle prostate biopsy specimens and diagnostic information.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to predominantly nonacademic urologists and pathologists.
• Response rates were 21% for urologists (57/271) and 55% for pathologists (47/85).

Main Results:

• 55% of urologists used six or more site-designated biopsies; 41% used unspecified bilateral biopsies.
• Over half of physicians submitted or received six or more separate containers for biopsy samples.
• A 3:1 preference existed for separate diagnoses per sextant site over a single combined diagnosis.
• Most urologists and pathologists desired separate Gleason scores and tumor percentage for each biopsy site.

Conclusions:

• Considerable variation persists in prostate biopsy sampling and reporting, impacting inter-institutional physician communication.
• Despite variations, urologists and pathologists demonstrated consensus on preferences for site-specific sampling and reporting formats.