How Accurate are Biopsies

[johnT]

Posted on ProstateCancerInfolink is some scary information.
180 patients diagnosed with unilateral PC (one lobe) considering focal treatment (cryosurgery of HIFU) were given a 50 core 3D Mapping biopsy.
61% had bilateral PC, (PC in more than one place in both lobes)
20% had no PC detected.
22% upgraded to Gleason 7 or above.
In other words, 20% would have been overtreated, 22% may have been undertreated, and 61% would have failed focal therapy.
For patients just using biopsy results to choose a treatment option this is bad news.
JohnT

[Jean222]

Thanks for that information, John.

I sure wish I had found this forum with knowledgeable folk, a few years ago~~my Hubby might have had a fighting chance for a cure, had I known then what I know now.

[srtimmons]

I have often wondered about the accuracy of biopsies and DRE results.

Very often the Gleason score is raied after the apthology reprt, for those electing surgery. And just beacuse the dRE is negitive, you might still have cancer. Thsi happended in my case.

Fortunately for me, the Gleason was not upgraded after surgery and, hopefully, I will not see a rise in PSA.

But those electing other treatment methods based on just a biopsy should be cautious.

[Operaman]

I also note that there are a number of people on the forum including me that had a negative biopsy, when in fact we certainly had cancer at the time. Also my second biopsy, which was positive, under scored both my Gleason and staging. However, it saved my life, as the biopsy lead to the surgery. I now recommend that people use biopsy as a tool in the tool box rather than a single factor used in decision making.