ABSTRACT

In this study we evaluated the effects of prior history of prostate biopsy on pain scores of patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-PBx).

Between October 2014 and April 2015, 198 patients who underwent primary or repeat prostate biopsy with abnormal digital rectal examination findings, high prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels (≥2.5 ng/mL) or suspicious lesions for prostate cancer in prior biopsies were included in the study. Before the biopsy procedure, all patients underwent transperineal periprostatic block with 10 mL of 2% prilocaine. A 10-point linear visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain arising from probe insertion (VAS-1) and prostate sampling (VAS-2). Patients were separated into two groups: Patients without a prior prostate biopsy were enrolled in group 1 and the patients with history of prostate biopsy were enrolled in group 2.

The mean age of the patients was 64±7.3 years, and the mean PSA value was 12.5±18.3 ng/dL. Prostate cancer detection rate was 22.7%. There were 173 patients in group 1 and 25 patients in group 2. VAS-1 scores were comparable between the groups (1.7±2.0 vs. 1.7±1.8; p=0.957). VAS-2 score was lower in group 2 than group 1’s (2.0±2.3 vs. 2.6±2.4); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.290).

Prior prostate biopsy experience does not affect the pain scores during TRUS-PBx.