MRI/US fusion transperineal versus transrectral biopsy of prostate cancer: Outcomes and complication rates, a tertiary medical center experience in the Middle East

Objective: To report on the outcomes of transperineal versus transrectal magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion biopsy of the prostate including detection of clinically significant cancer and complications. This is the first and largest series in the Middle East.

Material and methods: Between May 2019 and June 2020, 145 patients with suspicious lesions on magnetic resonance imaging underwent magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy at our center. Transperineal biopsy was performed under light sedation, while transrectal biopsy patients had a periprostatic block for anesthesia. Clinically significant cancer was defined as Gleason ≥3+4

Results: In all, 98 transperineal biopsies and 47 transrectal magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion prostate biopsies were done. Patients had similar prebiopsy parameters (transperineal vs. transrectal): median age (64.5 vs. 66 years; P=.68), median prostate-specific antigen value (7.5 vs. 7.5; P=.42), and median prostate volume (51 vs. 52.5; P=.83). Those that underwent transperineal biopsy had fewer average total number of cores compared to transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (11 vs. 13; P=.025) fewer average number of random cores (3 vs. 6; P < .0001), and the detection rate of clinically significant cancer was similar between the groups (44% vs. 48.9%; P=.57). No difference in hematuria, retention, and sepsis rate requiring admission (1 vs. 2; P=.2) was observed. However, more patients had urinary tract infection in the transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy group compared to transperineal biopsy group (5 vs. 1; P=.006) that were treated with antibiotics on outside basis.

Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound transperineal fusion biopsy has similar detection rate of clinically significant cancer compared to transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy with less urinary tract infection post biopsy.

Cite this article as: El-Achkar A, Abou Heidar N, Labban M, et al. MRI/US fusion transperineal versus transrectral biopsy of prostate cancer: Outcomes and complication rates, a tertiary medical center experience in the middle east. Turk J Urol. 2022;48(2):98-105.