Biopsy diagnosis of prostatic cancer--current areas of concern.

Biopsy diagnosis of prostatic cancer current areas of concern Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has been recognised as a serum marker with the potential for early detection of prostate cancer-the second most frequent cause of tumour death in men. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) allows sampling of specific sites within the prostate gland, and surgical innovation has made radical prostatectomy more acceptable to patients. These events have produced a major increase in prostatic needle biopsies taken with the aim of diagnosing cancer at a stage when radical treatment may be curative.