[A comparison of transrectal fine needle aspiration and biopsy of prostatic lesion]

Transrectal fine needle aspiration and biopsy were performed on 100 patients with suspicious prostatic lesions using 22 gauge aspiration needles and 18 gauge biopsy needles. These collections were made from January 1990 to June 1991. Sufficient prostate tissue for cytological and histological diagnosis were obtained in 97% (97/100) and 99% (99/100), respectively. Thirty-nine patients (39%) were diagnosed having cancer with an accuracy rate of 89.7% (35/39) by histology and 69.2% (27/39) by cytology. One patient with a normal cytological aspiration was found to have an atypical biopsy, therefore, the biopsy was repeated and the prostate showed adenocarcinoma. Our results indicate that the needle aspiration cytology has a less accurate diagnosis rate than the needle biopsy histology. Fine needle aspiration is a safe and effective outpatient procedure but there is a definite learning curve before its use can be fully exploited. It is important to have experienced urologists and pathologists to perform these aspirations until sufficient experience is accumulated.