Background: A systematic 12-core transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is currently recommended for prostate malignancy detection modalities. However, there is limited data about the diagnostic yield of increasing the core number to 18.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of cancer detection and clinical advantages between 12- and 18-core TRUS biopsies.

Materials and Methods: The authors conducted a prospective, single-group trial of TRUS biopsies specifically for patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels between 4.0 and 20.0 ng/mL. Sixty-two consecutive patients were enrolled and received a 12- or an 18-core TRUS biopsy under local anaesthesia. The patients and prostate cancer characteristics, such as serum PSA, free PSA, prostate volume, PSA density, D’Amico risk classification, and Gleason grade group were recorded and analysed.

Results: The prostate cancer detection rate using 12 cores for the initial TRUS biopsy was 22.6% (14 patients), while using 18 cores was 24.2% (15 patients). The results were not statistically different (p=0.83). Postoperative complications were two cases of gross haematuria and two case of acute urinary retention, which did not require admission. Infection occurred in two patients and no serious morbidities or mortalities.

Conclusion: The present study did not find any significant benefit in increasing the number of biopsy cores from 12 to 18 for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in men with serum PSA levels between 4.0 and 20.0 ng/mL.

Keywords: Transrectal prostate biopsy; 12-core; 18-core; Prostate cancer; Cancer detection

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.12.13720

Received 31 January 2022 | Revised 19 October 2022 | Accepted 28 October 2022