OBJECTIVES: The authors report their experience on the use of a high number of biopsies for the diagnosis of a vesicourethral anastomosis tumor recurrence in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with a PSA elevation. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with PSA > or = 0.4 ng/ml after radical prostatectomy received 6 to 8 transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsies of the vesicourethral anastomosis. RESULTS: The biopsy scheme with 6 random anastomotic biopsies plus additional biopsies through TRUS detectable lesions was able to diagnose a local recurrence in more than 60% of the cases. In presence of a post-operative PSA < 1.0 ng/ml and in absence of ultrasound detectable or palpable lesions a local neoplastic recurrence was detected in 58% of the cases. In presence of a palpable or ultrasound visible lesions, the detection rate increases to 80% of the cases.
OBJECTIVES: The authors report their experience on the use of a high number of biopsies for the diagnosis of a vesicourethral anastomosis tumor recurrence in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with a PSA elevation. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with PSA > or = 0.4 ng/ml after radical prostatectomy received 6 to 8 transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsies of the vesicourethral anastomosis. RESULTS: The biopsy scheme with 6 random anastomotic biopsies plus additional biopsies through TRUS detectable lesions was able to diagnose a local recurrence in more than 60% of the cases. In presence of a post-operative PSA < 1.0 ng/ml and in absence of ultrasound detectable or palpable lesions a local neoplastic recurrence was detected in 58% of the cases. In presence of a palpable or ultrasound visible lesions, the detection rate increases to 80% of the cases.
Authors: Pasquale Martino; Vincenzo Scattoni; Andrea B Galosi; Paolo Consonni; Carlo Trombetta; Silvano Palazzo; Carmen Maccagnano; Giovanni Liguori; Massimo Valentino; Michele Battaglia; Libero Barozzi Journal: World J Urol Date: 2011-05-08 Impact factor: 4.226