Prospective Analysis on the Relation between Pain and Prostate Volume during Transrectal Prostate Biopsy

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to assess the relationship between pain and the prostate volume during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July and September 2006, 71 patients scheduled for TRUS biopsy of the prostate were considered for inclusion to this study. These patients underwent periprostatic neurovascular bundle block with lidocaine prior to biopsy. Pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during periprostatic neurovascular bundle block (VAS 1), during biopsy (VAS 2), and 20 minutes after biopsy (VAS 3). The mean pain scores were analyzed in the large prostate group (prostate volume > 40 cc) and the small prostate group (prostate volume ≤ 40 cc). P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean prostate volume was 42.2 cc (standard deviation: 8.6). The mean pain scores of VAS 1, 2 and 3 were 4.70 ± 1.61, 3.15 ± 2.44 and 1.05 ± 1.51, respectively. In the large prostate group, the mean pains scores of VAS 1, 2 and 3 were 4.75 ± 1.76, 3.51 ± 2.76 and 1.29 ± 1.70, respectively, whereas in the small prostate group, the means pain scores were 4.66 ± 1.46, 2.77 ± 2.0, and 0.80 ± 1.26, respectively. Although there were no statistical differences of VAS 1, the larger prostate group revealed higher pain scores of VAS 2 and 3 compared with the small prostate group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with larger prostate volumes tend to feel more pain during and after TRUS guided prostate biopsy. Our findings suggest that additional analgesic strategies may be necessary when the patients with larger prostate undergo TRUS guided prostate biopsy.