在前列腺癌診斷上必須經由前列腺切片檢查來確定診斷，而經直腸超音波之前列腺切片檢查是現今最流行之取樣方式。我們將探討此方法之安全性。藉由回溯性研究，長庚醫院從1994年1月至1996年6月，共包括A組住院病人共162人，B組門診病人共83人，平均年齡分別是66.6歲及65.4歲，因疑似前列腺癌進行經直腸超音波前列腺切片檢查。符合病理切片之條件是(1)前列腺特異抗原大於4ng/ml.(2)肛門指診異常。(3)經直腸超音波異常。經直腸超音波之前列切片檢查之併發症絕大多數是短暫及輕微的；住院組病人中有18人(11.1%)遭受較嚴重之併發症，其中有6人(3.7%)必須住院治療。而門診組僅9人(10.8%)遭受較嚴重之併發症，其中4人(4.8%)必須住院治療。經由現代的經直腸超音波前列腺切片查是一種低併發症的安全方法，我們建議可由門診安排執行，不須住院執行，以避免浪費醫療資源。

Although prostate biopsy for detection of prostate cancer is a common practice, the inci-dence of complications associated with the biopsy procedure is not conclusive. This study retro-spectively evaluates the incidence of complications following contemporary transrectal prostate biopsy with or without hospitalization. We reviewed the charts of a group of 162 inpatients (group A) and 83 outpatients (group B)who had undergone ultrasonography-guided transrectal prostate biopsy between Jan. 1994 and June 1996. Indications for biopsy included abnormal DRE, PSA level>4.0 ng/ml, or abnormal lesions on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Most of the side effects were transient and mild; 18 patients (11.1%) in the inpatient group suffered complications such as gross hematuria and prostatitis with fever, and 6 patients (3.7%) required prolonged hospitalization. Nine patients (10.8%) in the outpatient group suffered com-plications such as gross hematuria and prostatitis, and 4 patients (4.8%) required hospitaliza-tion. These data demonstrate that there is no significant difference in complication rates between inpatient and outpatient groups associated with contemporary transrectal prostate biopsy. These results suggest that echo-guided transrectal biopsy of the prostate is a safe method for prostate biopsy in an outpatient setting. (J Urol R.O.C., 9:117-120,1998)