The relation of pain with geographical location in Turkey in transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy

Abstract

In this study, the relationship of patient tolerance in transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) guided prostate biopsies, 
with geographical location in Turkey was evaluated. One hundred sixty-two patients with a mean age of 67.9 years 
(range, 46-82 years) who underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsies in our clinic were examined. The Visual Analog 
Scale (VAS) was used as the tolerance assessment criterion. The mean pain scores according to regions were as 
follows: Black Sea region, 4.9; East Anatolian region, 3.6; Central Anatolian region, 3.6; Marmara region, 2.2; Aegean 
region, 1.9; Mediterranean region, 1.5; and Southeast Anatolian region, 1.4. The mean pain score of patients from the 
Black Sea region was significantly higher than the other regions; whereas the mean pain scores of patients in the East 
and Central Anatolian regions were significantly higher than the other regions, except Black Sea region. The 
difference patient tolerance and age were not statistically significant. The geographical locations of the patients were 
shown to affect the pain levels significantly, in TRUS-guided prostate biopsies. In case the results of the present study 
are confirmed in large-scale studies, it may be beneficial to consider this issue in counseling the patients undergoing 
prostate biopsies.