Accuracy of transurethral resection of the prostate versus transrectal needle biopsy in the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma.

Transurethral prostatic resection for obstructive uropathy often yields malignant tissue in a significant number of patients with prostatic carcinoma. A comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of transurethral prostatectomy and transrectal prostatic biopsy in 139 patients who had both procedures demonstrated no significant difference. It is suggested that patients with obstruction and suspected prostatic carcinoma, who are not candidates for curative treatment, should have transurethral prostatectomy to relieve the obstruction and to confirm the diagnosis simultaneously.