Patient Experience of Systematic Versus Fusion Prostate Biopsies

The magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion-guided biopsy (FBx) technique has gained popularity in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostics, but little is known about its effect on patient experience.

To evaluate pain, discomfort and other non-infectious complications in PCa patients undergoing either systematic 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (SBx) or FBx and patient willingness to undergo rebiopsy.

A prospective trial of 262 male patients, 203 of whom underwent transrectal SBx and 59 FBx at Helsinki University Hospital in 2015-2016. Patients completed two questionnaires immediately after and at 30 d after biopsy.

Patients reported pain and discomfort on a numeric rating scale (NRS; 0-10) immediately after biopsy. At 30 d, discomfort was measured on a scale ranging from 1 (no inconvenience) to 4 (maximal inconvenience). Other symptoms were reported dichotomously (yes/no) in both questionnaires. Mann-Whitney U, Pearson's χ², and logistic regression tests were used.

For the SBx and FBx groups the median number of cores per patient was 12 and three, respectively. At 30 d, a higher proportion of patients in the SBx group had experienced pain than in the FBx group (70/203 [34%] vs 12/59 [20%]; p=0.043), whereas there was no difference in the median discomfort scores. Hematuria was less common in the FBx group (26/59 [44%] vs 140/203 [69%]; p<0.001). Patients willing to undergo rebiopsy immediately post-biopsy reported lower median NRS (3.0 [interquartile range 2.0-5.0] vs 5.0 [4.3-6.0]; p<0.001) and discomfort scores (4.0 [2.0-6.0] vs 7.0 [5.0-8.0]; p<0.001) than those unwilling. At 30 d, less discomfort (2.0 [interquartile range 1.0-2.0] vs 2.0 [2.0-3.0]; p=0.008) and fever (6/195 [3.1%] vs 6/28 [22%]; p=0.001) were experienced by patients willing to undergo rebiopsy. The nonrandomized design was a limitation.

FBx is associated with less pain and hematuria than SBx during the 30-d interval after biopsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted prostate biopsy is associated with less pain, discomfort, and blood in the urine compared to the standard ultrasound-guided procedure. Performing MRI-targeted procedures may reduce biopsy-related complications and promote adherence to recommended repeat biopsy for patients on active surveillance for prostate cancer.