Diagnostic Role of Prostate Resection in the Elderly Patients Who Experience Significant Co-Morbidity with a High Clinical Suspicion of Prostate Cancer

The necessity of routine prostate biopsy prior to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in elderly comorbid patients with a high prostate specific antigen (PSA) level remains controversial. We assessed the role of TURP in prostate cancer diagnosis in these individuals. A total of 197 patients underwent TURP in conjunction with prostatic needle biopsy. Pathologic reviews of specimens of TUR chips and biopsy cores were analyzed. Overall, prostate cancer (CaP) was detected in 114 patients (57.6%). Ninety-eight cancers (86%) were detected with TURP and biopsy, and seven cancers (6.1%) with only TURP. The Gleason score of a TUR-specimen was identical to that of the biopsy-core in 43.9% of cases. Variables associated with diagnostic accuracy in the TUR-specimens included the prebiopsy PSA level, prostate specific antigen density (PSAD), and the Gleason score in biopsy cores. In patients with a PSA level and a PSAD that was greater than 15.4 ng/mL and 0.69 ng/mL/g, respectively, 100% of the cancers were detected in the TUR-specimens. Our results suggest that a prostatic biopsy might be omitted prior to TURP in elderly patients with significant co-morbidity and levels for PSA of >15.4 ng/mL.

Outcome of Prostate Biopsy in Men Younger than 40 Years of Age with High Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Levels

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer is rarely diagnosed in men younger than 40 years of age. At present, the available data show a low rate of cancer detection from prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening of this group of young men. We analyzed the outcome of prostate biopsy results in patients of this age group with a high PSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1997 and August 2008, a total of 81 men less than 40 years of age were referred from the Health Care Promotion Center as the result of elevated PSA levels. Six men with prostatitis were excluded. The remaining 75 men were asymptomatic and had normal findings on the digital rectal examination (DRE) and were selected to have a transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy for suspected prostate cancer. The patients with sustained high PSA levels underwent repeat biopsies. RESULTS: The median age of the 75 men was 33 years (range, 26-40 years) and the mean PSA level was 6.57 ng/ml (range, 4.32-13.45 ng/ml). The results of the primary biopsy was 1 (1.3%) case of prostate cancer, 70 cases (93%) with benign tissue, 2 cases (2.6%) with inflammation, and 1 case each (1.3%) with high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). Of the 10 men who underwent a second biopsy, all had benign findings. Three of the men who underwent a third biopsy all had benign tissue findings. CONCLUSIONS: The prostate cancer detection rate in young men less than 40 years of age with high PSA levels and normal DREs was very low. Repeat biopsy for sustained high PSA levels in young men less than 40 years of age may not be indicated.

Efficacy and Safety of Artificial Urinary Sphincter for Stress Urinary Incontinence after Prostate Surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (UI) after prostate surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 19 patients who underwent AUS implantation from July 2003 to November 2008. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of the postoperative changes in daily pad use, incontinence visual analogue scale (I-VAS), International Continence Society male-Short Form questionnaire (ICS-male SF), Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire (I-QoL), and patients' satisfaction postoperatively. No pad use was defined as cure, and use of 1 pad or fewer per day as improvement. Cure and improvement were regarded as success. Complications and durability of the AUS were evaluated. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 70.0 years (range, 47-76 years). With a median follow-up period of 11.8 months (range, 6.2-48.1 months), the success rate was 68.4% (13/19; cure in 12 and improvement in 1). I-VAS, subscale scores of ICS-male SF (incontinence and QoL), and total and subscale scores of I-QoL (psychosocial impact, social embarrassment, avoidance, and limiting behaviors) were significantly improved. Fifteen (78.9%) patients reported being satisfied. Six (31.5%) patients required revision: volume adjustment for 2, second cuff implantation for 2, pump reposition for 1, and pump reposition, volume adjustment, and second cuff implantation for 1. One of the patients who had a second cuff implantation had the sphincter explanted for infection. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high rate of revision, the satisfaction rate was high and the quality of life was significantly improved after AUS implantation for urinary incontinence after prostate surgery.