[Systematic prostate biopsy before transurethral resection of the prostate]

With the aim of evaluating the clinical significance of systematic prostate biopsy before transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), clinical data were reviewed retrospectively in patients who had underwent prostate biopsy prior to scheduled TUR-P.

Between July, 1994 and June, 2000, TUR-P was scheduled in a total number of 456 patients with clinically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

In 218 (47.8%) out of 456 cases, prostatic biopsy was conducted prior to TUR-P due to abnormally elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4.0 ng/ml or more, revealing only 22 (10.1%) cases of prostatic cancer. Between these 22 cases with biopsy proven prostatic cancer and 189 cases with BPH confirmed both by biopsy and following TUR-P, statistically significant differences were noted in age (p < 0.05), prostate volume (p < 0.0001) and PSA density (p < 0.01).

Considering the low positive rate of preoperative prostatic biopsy, it might be suggested that a considerable number of biopsy could be avoided in patients with clinically diagnosed BPH. Based on the results obtained from this study, prostatic biopsy might be unnecessary before TUR-P for those with prostate volume greater than 60 ml or PSA density less than 0.15.