Morbidity with Contemporary Transrectal Biopsy of the Prostate

Abstract

Although prostate biopsy for detection of prostate cancer is a common practice, the inci-dence of complications associated with the biopsy procedure is not conclusive. This study retro-spectively evaluates the incidence of complications following contemporary transrectal prostate biopsy with or without hospitalization. We reviewed the charts of a group of 162 inpatients (group A) and 83 outpatients (group B)who had undergone ultrasonography-guided transrectal prostate biopsy between Jan. 1994 and June 1996. Indications for biopsy included abnormal DRE, PSA level＞4.0 ng/ml, or abnormal lesions on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Most of the side effects were transient and mild; 18 patients (11.1%) in the inpatient group suffered complications such as gross hematuria and prostatitis with fever, and 6 patients (3.7%) required prolonged hospitalization. Nine patients (10.8%) in the outpatient group suffered com-plications such as gross hematuria and prostatitis, and 4 patients (4.8%) required hospitaliza-tion. These data demonstrate that there is no significant difference in complication rates between inpatient and outpatient groups associated with contemporary transrectal prostate biopsy. These results suggest that echo-guided transrectal biopsy of the prostate is a safe method for prostate biopsy in an outpatient setting. (J Urol R.O.C., 9:117-120,1998)