The effect of the number of biopsy cores on the concordance between prostate biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason score: a prostate volume-controlled study.

Context: Studies analyzing the concordance of biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP) Gleason scores have limitations. Some included 2 or more centers, used historical controls from the early prostate specific antigen era or lacked a clear definition of the biopsy schemes. Furthermore, most did not control the results for prostate volume.

Objective: To confirm whether prediction of RP Gleason score can be optimized by taking more biopsy cores in a contemporary series of patients, with pathologic samples analyzed by the same pathologist, and controlling these results for prostate volume.

Design: The study comprised a retrospective case-control analysis of 393 patients with prostate cancer treated with RP. Patients were divided into 3 groups: those in group 1 underwent a 6-core biopsy; group 2, an 8-core biopsy; and group 3, a 10 or more-core biopsy. Concordance rates between biopsy and RP Gleason scores, as well as the rates of undergrading and overgrading, were determined for each biopsy scheme.

Results: Concordance rates were 60.9%, 58.3%, and 64.6% for patients from groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P = .18). When we analyzed patients with prostate volumes of less than 50 cm(3), concordance rates were 58.3%, 58.3%, and 65.1% for each group, respectively (P = .03). Among patients with prostate volumes of 50 cm(3) or more, concordance rates were 70%, 58.1%, and 63.6%, respectively (P = .66).

Conclusions: Taking 10 or more cores can improve the prediction of RP Gleason score in patients with prostate volumes of less than 50 cm(3). For patients with prostate volumes of 50 cm(3) or more, increasing the biopsy cores to 10 or more did not improve prediction of RP Gleason score.