We retrospectively investigated the core lengths of 768 patients underwent initial prostate biopsy by a lateral zone targetted 12-core protocol between 2006 and 2011, to evaluate the impact of total core length in cancer detection. Cancer was identified in 292 (38.0%) patients. Mean total core length for positive and negative biopsy results were 15.3 cm and 14.6 cm, respectively. Cancer detection rates in groups for total core length < 12 cm, 12 - 15 cm, and > 15 cm were 30.9% (55 / 178), 40.6% (96 / 236), and 39.8% (141 / 354) , respectively. When a threshold of 10 cm was selected for total core length, overall cancer detection rate for < 10 cm group was 23.9% (17 / 71) and ≥ 10 cm group was 39.5% (275 / 697). Total core length has a great impact in cancer detection rate and may be used as a reliable adjunctive tool in deciding repeat biopsies for patients with negative biopsy result.
Keywords: Prostate, cancer, needle biopsy, core length.
