The advance of ultrasound guided prostate biopsy--comparison between 4 quadrant and 6 sextant biopsy

Although systematic biopsy has increased the detection rate of prostate cancer, the optimal method of biopsy has not yet been fully established. The number and site of cores, and the biopsy route are controversial in terms of cancer detection and complication. We briefly review the advances in prostate biopsy, and present the results of our biopsy methods. Our study showed that the difference of cancer detection rate between 4 quadrant and 6 sextant biopsy was not significant. There was little value in systematic transition zone biopsies. However, such biopsies proved useful in patients whose first systematic biopsies was negative and who have persistently elevated PSA values. It is recommended that the biopsy protocol for routine prostate cancer detection be targeted to the peripheral zone.