[Value of transrectal FNA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in elderly patients]. / Valor de la PAAF transrectal en el diagnóstico del cáncer de próstata en pacientes de edad avanzada.

OBJECTIVES: To identify if there is a group elderly patients with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer in which pathological confirmation may be unnecessary, and if prostatic transrectal fine needle aspiration (FNA) may be a useful diagnostic tool for old patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients aged 75-93 years were evaluated by means of prostatic transrectal FNA. Antibiotic prophylaxis, analgesia or cessation of anticoagulant therapy were not necessary. RESULTS: In 35 patients (48.6%) cytological diagnosis was positive for prostatic adenocarcinoma, whereas in 37 cytology was negative for cancer. In 100% of patients with PSA > 30 ng/ml or with PSA > 20 ng/ml and suspicious digital rectal examination FNA results were positive for cancer. 4.1% minor and 1.3% major (acute prostatitis) complications after FNA were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In male patients older than 75 years with PSA > 30 ng/ml or with PSA > 20 ng/ml and suspicious digital rectal examination, histological confirmation of carcinoma by prostatic biopsy may be not necessary, because of the high probability of a positive result. When histological confirmation of prostatic carcinoma is required in elderly patients, transrectal prostatic FNA is a valid alternative to transrectal biopsy, due to its excellent tolerance and low complication rate.

Valor de la PAAF transrectal en el diagnóstico del cáncer de próstata en pacientes de edad avanzada / Value of transrectal FNA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in elderly patients

Objetivos: Identificar si existe algún grupo de varones ancianos con sospecha clínica de cáncer de próstata, en el cual la confirmación anatomopatológica del diagnóstico puede no ser necesaria, y valorar si la punción aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF) transrectal de próstata puede ser adecuada para el diagnóstico en la población anciana. Material y método: Se evaluaron mediante PAAF transrectal a 72 pacientes de edades comprendidas entre 75 y 93 años. No fue necesaria la administración de ningún tipo de profilaxis antibiótica, analgesia, ni el abandono o sustitución de medicación anticoagulante. Resultados: En 35 de estos pacientes (48,6%) el resultado de la citología fue positivo para adenocarcinoma de próstata, mientras que en 37 fue negativo para tumor. En el 100% de los pacientes con PSA > 30 ng/ml o con PSA> 20 ng/ml y tacto rectal sospechoso de cáncer, la PAAF fue positiva. Se detectó un 4,1% de complicaciones menores y un 1,3% de complicaciones mayores (prostatitis aguda). Conclusiones: En varones mayores de 75 años con PSA > 30 ng/ml o con PSA > 20 ng/ml y tacto rectal sospechoso puede no ser necesaria la confirmación histológica de cáncer de próstata mediante biopsia dada la elevada probabilidad de que ésta sea positiva. Cuando se considere necesaria la confirmación anatomopatológica del diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata en pacientes de edad avanzada, la PAAF constituye una buena alternativa a la biopsia transrectal, dada su excelente tolerancia y baja tasa de complicaciones (AU)

Objectives: To identify if there is a group elderly patients with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer in which pathological confirmation may be unnecessary, and if prostatic transrectal fine needle aspiration (FNA) may be auseful diagnostic tool for old patients. Material and methods: A total of 72 patients aged 75 - 93 years were evaluated by means of prostatic transrectal FNA. Antibiotic prophylaxis, analgesia or cessation of anticoagulant therapy were not necessary. Results: In 35 patients (48.6%) cytological diagnosis was positive for prostatic adenocarcinoma, whereas in 37cytology was negative for cancer. In 100% of patients with PSA > 30 ng/ml or with PSA > 20 ng/ml and suspicious digital rectal examination FNA results were positive for cancer. 4.1% minor and 1.3% major (acute prostatitis) complications after FNA were observed. Conclusions: In male patients older than 75 years with PSA > 30 ng/ml or with PSA > 20 ng/ml and suspicious digital rectal examination, histological confirmation of carcinoma by prostatic biopsy may be not necessary, because of the high probability of a positive result. When histological confirmation of prostatic carcinoma is required in elderly patients, transrectal prostatic FNA is a valid alternative to transrectal biopsy, due to its excellent tolerance and low complication rate (AU)