Use and rationale of a multicompartment microcassette for site-specific biopsies of the prostate in a consecutive cohort of men

The collection of prostate biopsies into individual or site-specific specimen containers has not been performed routinely because of concerns of time, cost and lack of additional clinical value. This report evaluates the first ever use of a multicompartment microcassette for the collection and processing of site-specific prostate biopsies. Site-specific prostate biopsies were taken in sequential men suspected to have prostate cancer and collected in a multicompartment microcassette, which holds six biopsies and fits within a standard specimen container. Estimates were made of the cost and time savings compared with biopsies collected in individual specimen containers. In 88 men evaluated, use of the multicompartment microcassette saved time (72% reduction) and cost (83% reduction) with the added ability of easy identification of the site of each prostate biopsy. The multicompartment microcassette is a convenient, time- and cost-effective container for the collection of site-specific prostate biopsies.