Comparing tolerability of local anaesthetic transperineal and transrectal prostate biopsies

Abstract

Objectives: Local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsies have been demonstrated as tolerable. However, to date, the tolerability has not been directly compared to the standard of care for transrectal biopsy. We set out to prospectively compare the tolerability of local anaesthetic transperineal and transrectal prostate biopsies. Patients and methods: All patients between 3 April 2019 to 6 December 2019 undergoing local anaesthetic transperineal / transrectal ultrasound biopsy were prospectively asked to complete a questionnaire using visual analogue scales assessing the tolerability of their biopsy. Results: 108 patients were included. Baseline characteristics (mean): age 66.4 years, prostate-specific antigen 13.7 ng/dl, prostate volume 48 ml. Of the patients 51% had ⩾ Gleason 3+4 prostate cancer. 56 patients had transperineal and 52 patients had transrectal biopsy. Median visual analogue scale scores (0–9: transperineal vs transrectal) for probe insertion, probe presence, local anaesthetic injection and taking biopsy were 3 vs 4 ( p=0.66), 3 vs 3 ( p=0.91), 3 vs 2 ( p=0.15) and 3 vs 3 ( p=0.18), respectively. Median visual analogue scale scores (0–3) for overall pain, embarrassment and how they would describe it to a friend were 1 vs 1 ( p=0.17), 0 vs 0 ( p=0.34) and 1 vs 1 ( p=0.2), respectively (transperineal vs transrectal ultrasound). 42 of the 56 patients in the transperineal group had prior transrectal biopsy. 24/42 patients described local anaesthetic transperineal biopsy as the same or better than transrectal; 15/42 described it as a little worse. Conclusion: Tolerability of local anaesthetic transperineal biopsy is comparable to transrectal biopsy. As such, we advocate the routine use of transperineal biopsy and to phase out the transrectal approach where possible. Level of evidence: 2b