Does the type of the previous biopsy affect the fusion prostate biopsy results?

It has been more than a decade since fusion prostate biopsy (FPB) has been used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, patients with a previous history of negative FPB and ongoing suspicion of PCa are beginning to emerge. This study investigated whether the first biopsy type (standard or fusion) should be effective in deciding on a second biopsy.

Male patients aged 40-75, with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value of less than 10 ng/mL and a negative biopsy history within the last 24 months, who underwent FPB in our clinic due to persistent PSA elevation and/or suspicious multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MpMRI) findings were included to the study. Patients were divided into groups according to the type of first biopsy (Group 1; those whose first biopsy was FPB, Group 2; those whose first biopsy was standard prostate biopsy). Some demographic and clinical data of the groups, as well as PCa detection rates, were compared. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 275 patients (Group 1: 84, Group 2: 191) were included in this study. The groups were similar in terms of age, PSA values before the first biopsy, PSA values before the second biopsy, family history of PCa, and prostate volume. PCa was detected at a higher rate in Group 2 than Group 1 (23% vs 15.5%, p = 0.044).

The data obtained from this study indicate that the type of initial biopsy should be taken into account when deciding on FPB in secondary patients with a previous negative biopsy history.