Seminal Vesicle Biopsy

Abstract

Nowadays, because of early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) and the widespread use of nomograms to predict pathological stage of the tumour, seminal vesicle biopsy is considered as a useful tool only in case of clinical suspicion of seminal vesicle invasion. On the other hand, in last years some authors described their experience in less demolitive surgical procedures for PC, such as seminal sparing radical prostatectomy, in an attempt to improve both postoperative urinary continence and sexual function, as reported by Hauri and Montie, respectively. Patients, who may undergo to such procedure, could benefit from preoperative seminal vesicle biopsy, instead of rely on probability of seminal vesicle invasion indicated by nomograms only.

From November 2001 to June 2003, 135 patients with negative rectal examination and PSA ≤10, with no contraindications to radical prostatectomy, underwent transrectal ultrasound guided seminal vesicle biopsy at our Institution. We performed seminal-monolateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy in patients with monolateral PC, Gleason score <7 and <4 positive biopsy cores, without seminal vesicles involvement. Patients with seminal vesicle invasion were addressed to radiotherapy.

Seminal vesicles biopsy showed in our hands good feasibility and low morbility; it was in general well tolerated by the patients.

All biopsy cores were adequate for histological examination.

Among patients with PC diagnosis, only one patient (4%), with serum PSA = 5 ng/mL and Gleason score = 6, had seminal vesicles involvement.

We performed seminal-nerve sparing radical prostatectomy in 21 patients, neither histological examination on frozen section nor final pathology showed seminal vesicle invasion in any case. Real usefulness of seminal vesicle biopsy remains controversial, but due to its good feasibility and low morbility it may play a role in the staging of selected patients.