Prospective controlled assessment of fine-needle prostatic aspiration

In this study, the cytologic diagnosis obtained by transrectal fine needle prostatic aspiration was compared to the histologic diagnosis obtained by prostatic needle biopsy or transurethral prostatic resection. Confirmation of all diagnoses occurred 91 per cent of the time: 96 per cent with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 77 per cent with carcinoma, and 100 per cent with prostatitis. Inadequate sampling for cytologic diagnosis occurred at the initiation of this study. False positive cancer diagnosis did not occur. False negative cancer diagnosis prompted appropriate follow-up. Fine-needle prostatic aspiration is a painless, simple to learn, minimally invasive, easily repeated, outpatient procedure for determining prostate pathology. The procedure should be part of each urologist's diagnostic capability.