Incidence of Benign and Malignant Prostate Tissue in Biopsies of Bladder Neck After a Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE: We determined whether bladder neck sparing radical prostatectomy may leave prostate tissue in the unresected bladder neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We intraoperatively evaluated the presence of prostate tissue in bladder neck biopsy specimens from 73 consecutive patients undergoing bladder neck sparing radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Of the 73 specimens 14 (19%) contained prostate tissue: 9 (12%) were positive for prostate cancer and 5 (7%) contained benign prostate tissue. All patients with a positive bladder neck biopsy had a positive margin at another site. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend routine bladder neck biopsies for patients undergoing a bladder neck sparing procedure.