[Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies in 266 patients].

BACKGROUND The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) for prostate cancer. METHODS On 266 patients ultrasonography guided transrectal biopsies were performed using the automatic biopsy gun fitted with an 18 gauge biopsy needle. RESULTS There was no major complication. Cancers were found in 52 patients (19.5%), and 16 of them were not identified by echography. Among 67 hypoechoic areas detected by echography, 36 (53.7%) were found to be cancer. The positive predictive value of DRE was 52.1% and that of PSA and TRUS were 24.4% and 53.7%, especially the rate increased to 93.7% by combining of these three techniques. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the use of DRE, PSA in conjunction with TRUS enhances early detection of prostate cancer.