Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy in Jamaican men

ABSTRACT

The incidence of prostate cancer varies according to countries and races. Among Asian men the incidence is low, but it is especially high among African Americans. A recent epidemiology study has revealed a very high level in the Jamaican male, exceeding that in American blacks. In this study 146 Jamaican men who underwent TRUS guided prostate biopsies from January 1996 to December 1997 in a private urology practice were reviewed. All were referred by their family physician, so they were screened before being seen by a urologist. Their ages ranged from 45 to 93 years (mean 67 years). 86 biopsies (60 percent) were positive for prostate cancer. In men with prostate specific antigen levels greater than 10ng/ml, the rate was 70 percent. The high percentage of positive biopsies may be due to the fact that this was a select group. The high referral rate suggests that Jamaican men and/or their family physicians have a high suspicion of prostate cancer.(AU)