1 Man2Man | Fall 2008 : Page 5
Question: My doctor told me my biopsy showed some “pre-cancerous changes” and he suggested repeating the biopsy.What do these “changes” mean and why should I have another biopsy? Dr. Joseph Chin answers: Likely the biopsy showed “atypical small acinar proliferation” or “ASAP”. Sometimes a biopsy “catches” cells or tissues somewhere in their course of becoming cancerous (but are not fully cancerous). The pathologist performing themicroscopic examination of the biopsymay find some areas or features which they feel are “suspicious” of being cancer but they simply do not have enoughmaterial or evidence to confidentlymake the diagnosis of “prostate cancer” based on that biopsy. They refer to this as “ASAP”. By recommending a second biopsy, the urologist hopes to obtainmore tissue to clarify whether indeed the prostate is harbouring some cancer. The urologist or radiologist performing the biopsy usually tries to target the region with ASAP on the previous biopsy but he/she will also sample additional sites tominimize the probability of “sampling error”. Our prostate cancer research team here are working on a systemwhich providesmore accurate tracking and targeting of biopsy sites, to facilitate reliable and precise re-biopsying of the areas of interest (e.g. ASAP) . Joseph Chin, M.D., FRCSC. Chief, Surgical Oncology. London Health Sciences Centre. Motorcycle ride for dad! On May 25th 2008 over 00 riders raised in excess of $ ,000 in support of prostate cancer research in London, Ont.
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Question: My doctor told me my biopsy showed some “pre-cancerous changes” and he suggested repeating the biopsy. What do these “changes” mean and why should I have another biopsy?<br /> <br /> Dr. Joseph Chin answers: Likely the biopsy showed “atypical small acinar proliferation” or “ASAP”.<br /> <br /> Sometimes a biopsy “catches” cells or tissues somewhere in their course of becoming cancerous (but are not fully cancerous). The pathologist performing the microscopic examination of the biopsy may find some areas or features which they feel are “suspicious” of being cancer but they simply do not have enough material or evidence to confidently make the diagnosis of “prostate cancer” based on that biopsy. They refer to this as “ASAP”.<br /> <br /> By recommending a second biopsy, the urologist hopes to obtain more tissue to clarify whether indeed the prostate is harbouring some cancer.<br /> <br /> The urologist or radiologist performing the biopsy usually tries to target the region with ASAP on the previous biopsy but he/she will also sample additional sites to minimize the probability of “sampling error”. Our prostate cancer research team here are working on a system which provides more accurate tracking and targeting of biopsy sites, to facilitate reliable and precise re-biopsying of the areas of interest (e.g. ASAP)
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