Objectives: To evaluate prostate cancer spatial distribution patterns with transperineal ultrasound navigated 11-region prostate biopsy template in a Chinese screening population.
Methods: From May 2004 to December 2007, 215 patients with a median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 21.0 ng/ml were diagnosed with prostate cancer through transperineal ultrasound guided 11-region template prostate biopsy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The characteristics of our sample cancer spatial distribution were assessed in relation with different PSA levels.
Results: The mean positives for the cancer of regions 1-10 and region 11 (the apical region) were 61.2% vs. 66.4% in patients whose PSA > 20 ng/ml (P = 0.29), and 35.7% vs. 47.6% in patients with PSA <or= 20 ng/ml (P = 0.001). The positives for cancer contained within the anterior and posterior parts were 96.5% vs. 90.9% (P = 0.10) in patients with PSA > 20 ng/ml and 75.2% vs. 75.2% in patients with PSA <or= 20 ng/ml (P = 1.00).
Conclusions: The current study suggests that prostate carcinoma foci are more frequently localized in the apical region in patients with normal to moderately increased PSA. Special attention should be paid to the apical region during the selection process of biopsy regions for this group of patients.