percentage of biopsies missing cancer 1st time?

is there an answer?

My Urologist told me a biopsy will find cancer 90% of the time if it's there...However, he tempered this by saying other factors like an abnormal DRE or a high and climbing PSA would make him doubt a negative biopsy..Using the TRUP device, it's impossible to take samples from the entire gland..My second biopsy produced a few atypical cells but no cancer..9 months later, my third biopsy produced 4 cores positive, one of those G-9.

A standard 12 core biopsy only samples around 1/1,000 of the prostate. So it is pretty easy to miss a tumor.

One of our most learned contributers had to endure THIRTEEN biopsies before his PC was finally found.

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.

142 - perhaps you should play the Power Ball and Mega Million numbers more often, lol

One concern my urologist had pre-biopsy was not finding cancer. I suspect it is because bx doesn't always catch it.

With PSA rising, had 10 core all negative in 2007, 10 core again in 2008 (all negative.)  Finally in 07/09,  when PSA hit 6.0, Mayo Uro did a saturation biopsy (28 cores).  Found 5 with cancer, 1-6, 2-7, 2-8.  RRP in 08/09.  Path report was Gleason 4+5!  I had a false sense of security for two years.  The Old Sailor

I had three biopsies before finding the cancer. First was in 2000, second in 2004 and final one in 2012. My surgeon believes I had PCa for 10 years judging by the size of my tumor and prostate.

Bill from Florida