Systematic Lateral Prostate Biopsy-Are the Benefits Worth the Costs?

Medial sextant and targeted biopsy directed at transrectal ultrasound identified lesions detects 94.6% of the prostate cancer that is detected with a 10 core biopsy protocol. The latter detects an extra 3% of clinically significant prostate cancer, while increasing costs by 30%. It is important to consider the absolute benefits of systematic lateral prostate biopsy in light of this additional expense when selecting an appropriate transrectal ultrasound biopsy regimen for a patient suspected of harboring prostate cancer.