Detection rate of prostate cancer following 12-core extended biopsy in a Semi-urban Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Transrectal prostate biopsy using the extended protocol has become the standard mode of obtaining tissue for histological diagnosis with cancer detection rate varying with race and geographical regions. This study is aimed at evaluating the cancer detection rate following a 12-core extended transrectal biopsy of the prostate in a semi-urban Nigerian tertiary hospital.

This was a hospital-based prospective study. Patients who had one or combination of elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE), and suspicious ultrasound findings were recruited into this study. Each had 12-core extended biopsy done. Their clinical and histological information were recorded in a pro forma. Data analysis was performed using the statistical programming for social sciences (SPSS) version 21. For all statistical tests, P < 0.05 was regarded as significant.

Of the 120 patients, 78 (65%) had prostate cancer. The cancer detection rate in participants aged 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90-100 were 75%, 46.7%, 72.3%, 85.7%, and 100%, respectively. Overall, the cancer detection rate at PSA levels 4.0-10.0 was 25%, 10.1-20.0 was 54.7%, 20.1-50.0 was 67.4%, 50.1-100.0 was 100%, and >100.0 was 100%. The cancer detection rate for men with suspicious DRE and prostatic ultrasound findings were comparatively higher than those with normal DRE and prostatic ultrasound findings at similar PSA levels.

This study showed a higher cancer detection rate with a 12-core biopsy protocol when compared to similar studies from the Western world, the Middle East, and urban centers in Nigeria due to poor awareness and late presentation in our environment.