Abstract
Introduction: We analyze the efficacy of routine transition zone biopsies in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided systemic prostate biopsies for the first time because of a suspicious digital rectal examination or an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Patients and Methods: During systemic prostate biopsy two or four additional transition zone biopsies were performed in 192 consecutive patients: in 182 because of a serum PSA concentration >4.1 ng/ml and in 10 because of a suspicious digital rectal examination and a serum PSA level <4.0 ng/ml. Results: The overall prostate cancer detection rate was 37.5% (72/192). In 24 patients (33.3%), cancer was only detected in the peripheral zone, in 3 (4.2%) only in the transition zone, and in 45 (62.5%) in both zones. Conclusion: Transition zone biopsies performed at the first time of systemic prostate biopsy seem to have a low efficacy.