[Investigation of ultrasound guided systematic biopsy of the prostate]

From August 1991 to February 1993, a total of 114 men with mean age of 68 years underwent ultrasound guided systematic biopsy of the prostate. These patients were clinically suspected of having prostate cancer by elevated PA or digital rectal examination. Systematic biopsies were performed on two different sites of peripheral zone and transition zone of each lobe, and echographically detected hypoechoic area was also biopsied. There were 42 prostate cancers detected: 7 (30%) in 23 men between 50 and 59 years old, 17 (45%) in 38 men between 70 and 79 years old, 6 (55%) in 11 men more than 80 years old. Three (11%) were detected in 27 men with a PA level of less than 3.1 ng/ml, 39 (45%) were detected in 89 men with a PA level of no less than 3.1 ng/ml. Thirty-three (44%) were detected in 75 men with positive rectal examination. Non-palpable cancers were detected in 9 men. These results suggest that systematic biopsy may be useful and a sensitive means in detecting prostatic cancer.