Systematic Prostatic Biopsies in 100 Men with No Suspicion of Cancer on Digital Rectal Examination

AbstractA total of 100 men with a mean age of 63 years underwent, in the following order, prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay (radioimmunometric assay, normal less than 2.5ng./ml.), rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography with a 7MHz. probe, measurement of the prostatic volume, and 6 ultrasound-guided randomized biopsies and biopsies of any hypoechogenic zones. All men with a suspicious prostate on rectal examination (nodule, induration or firm zone) were excluded from the study. There were 14 prostatic cancers detected: 3 (8.5%) in men less than 60 years old, 4 (11%) in men between 60 and 70 years old and 7 (24%) in men more than 70 years old. No cancer was detected in men with a PSA level of less than 10ng./ml., 5 (26%) were detected in 19 men with a PSA level of 10 to 19ng./ml., 4 (40%) were detected in 10 men with a PSA of 20 to 29.9ng./ml. and 5 (100%) were detected in 5 men with a PSA of 30 or more ng./ml. A total of 66 men (66%) had a PSA level of less than 10ng./ml. There were 18 (18%) h...