A novel biopsy-related parameter derived from location and relationship of positive cores on standard 12-core trans-rectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a useful parameter for predicting tumor volume compared to number of positive cores

To develop a novel biopsy-related parameter, named overlapping line, defined as the line between the adjacent positive cores on 12-core trans-rectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy, and evaluated the value of overlapping line for predicting tumor volume in the final pathologic examination. Among patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at Boramae Medical Center, 470 patients who underwent standard 12-core trans-rectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy were selected for the analysis. The number of overlapping line was determined in each patient, and its effects on tumor volume were evaluated after adjusting for other variables. Median prostate specific antigen level was 9.1 ng/mL, and the maximum % cancer in positive cores was 42.8%. Median numbers of positive cores and overlapping lines were three and two, respectively. The pathologic stage was T2 or less, T3a, and T3b or greater in 297 (63.5%), 104 (22.2%), and 67 patients (14.3%), respectively. Median tumor volume in prostatectomy specimen was 3.4 mL. In multivariable analysis, the number of overlapping lines (B 0.750, p < 0.001) was a significant predictor for tumor volume, in addition to prostate specific antigen level and maximum % cancer in positive cores. In addition, the model with overlapping line showed superior accuracy compared to the model with positive core based adjusted r (2) (0.467 vs. 0.456). The number of overlapping lines, a novel prostate biopsy-related variable, is thought to be a more reliable predictor for tumor volume compared to the number of positive cores and could be easily applied to routine daily practice.