Saturation prostate biopsy with periprostatic block can be performed in office.

PURPOSE: Recent reports of saturation prostate biopsy performed in the operating room with the patient under anesthesia have shown increased cancer detection rates over repeat office based prostate biopsy. We report equivalent success and tolerability of saturation biopsy in the office using local anesthesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 24 core saturation prostate biopsies in 15 patients using periprostatic local anesthesia. Before biopsy 20 cc 2% lidocaine (10 cc per side) were injected under ultrasound guidance into the periprostatic nerve entry into the prostate bilaterally. After measurements were made a random 24 core prostate biopsy was performed using a spring loaded biopsy gun. Pain was determined using a visual analog scale to assess tolerability.

RESULTS: Complete 24 core biopsies were successful and well tolerated in all 15 patients. Cancer detected in 5 patients (33%) was clinical stage T1C. Mean prostate specific antigen before biopsy was 11.2 ng./dl. (range 5 to 24.1). The indication for biopsy was elevated prostate specific antigen after a previous normal biopsy in 12 patients. In 2 patients prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia was noted on a previous biopsy and in 1 previous atypia was identified on biopsy. The mean visual analog scale pain score was 0.7 (range 0 to 3). Prolonged minor hematuria greater than 5 days in duration occurred in 3 cases requiring no intervention. No other complications occurred. Nerve sparing was not more difficult in the single patient who underwent radical prostatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS: Saturation prostate biopsy is well tolerated in the office setting with the patient under local anesthesia. The additional risk, time and cost of performing these procedures in the operating room using anesthesia may be safely avoided.