Ultrasound guided versus digitally directed prostatic needle biopsy in patients with palpable prostatic lesions

Ultrasound guided and digitally directed prostatic needle biopsies were performed in 25 patients with palpable prostatic lesions. Digitally directed biopsies were positive for cancer in 9 [36%] patients, whereas ultrasound guided biopsies were positive in 11 [44%] patients [including all 9 patients detected by the digitally directed biopsies]. Elevated serum prostate specific antigen [PSA] levels were detected in 10 [90.9%] of 11 patients with cancer [including the two patients diagnosed by ultrasound guided biopsies only]. The results demonstrated the higher diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound guided technique, hence, its use in patients with negative digitally directed biopsies, particularly those with high serum PSA levels, is recommended