ADVANCES IN CANCER THERAPY
The history of the development of prostate biopsy has changed significantly from random
biopsies, to systematic to extended biopsy schemes. Systematic sextant biopsies, even when
laterally directed, do not provide adequate sampling of the prostate. Ultimately the sextant
biopsy technique has now become obsolete in favour of more extended biopsy protocols. To
date there is no consensus on the optimal number of cores without significantly increasing
morbidity but it has been shown that as prostate gland size increases, the yield of sextant
biopsy has decreased (Karakiewicz et al., 1997). Based on published data it appears that
between 8 and 12 cores would be an acceptable protocol.
Essentially the...