Preliminary report on ultrasound guided transrectal prostatic biopsy

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided transrectal biopsy was performed on 15 patients. Histological findings were carcinoma in three cases (20%), prostatitis in three cases (20%) and glandular atypia in two cases (13%). All lesions were located in the peripheral zone. Hyperechoic lesions on TRUS were seen in two of the three cases of prostatic carcinoma while hypoechoic lesions were seen in all three cases of prostatitis. Directed biopsies established the diagnosis in six cases. However, random biopsies revealed that the extent of involvement was underestimated in five of these six cases. In addition, random biopsies established the diagnosis in two cases where the directed specimen was negative. Where both digital rectal examination (DRE) and TRUS were positive for nodules and the prostatic specific antigen (PSA) was elevated, the histology was positive in 100%. Where both the DRE and TRUS were negative, the histology was negative irrespective of the PSA level. Patient acceptance of the procedure was high. Complications to the procedure were haematuria, passing blood per rectum and fever.