| Summary: | Background Analyze an approach to distributing transperineal prostate biopsy cores that yields data on the volume of a tumor that might be present when the biopsy is negative, and also increases detection efficiency. Methods Basic principles of sampling and probability theory are employed to analyze a transperineal biopsy pattern that uses evenly-spaced parallel cores in order to extract quantitative data on the volume of a small spherical tumor that could potentially be present, even though the biopsy did not detect it, i.e., negative biopsy. Results This approach to distributing biopsy cores provides data for the upper limit on the volume of a small, spherical tumor that might be present, and the probability of smaller volumes, when biopsies are negative and provides a quantitative basis for evaluating the effectiveness of different core spacing distances. Conclusions Distributing transperineal biopsy cores so they are evenly spaced provides a means to calculate the probability that a tumor of given volume could be present when the biopsy is negative, and can improve detection efficiency.
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