ULTRASOUND - PROSTATE (TRANSRECTAL)

Alternative Names:  prostate ultrasound, prostate sonography, ultrasound of the prostate, transrectal ultrasound

Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate is performed to:

• Detect disorders within the prostate.

• Determine whether the prostate is enlarged, with measurements acquired as needed for any treatment planning.

• Detect an abnormal growth within the prostate.

• Help diagnose the cause of a man's infertility.

Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate helps diagnose symptoms such as:

• A nodule felt by a physician during a routine physical exam or prostate cancer screening exam.

• An elevated blood test result.

• Difficulty urinating.

• Ultrasound provides real-time images.

• It also can be used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which a needle is used to sample cells (tissue) from an abnormal area in the prostate gland for later laboratory testing.

Preparation

• Wear comfortable

• Loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam

• Remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.

• You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.

• Avoid taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, for seven to 10 days prior to the procedure if a biopsy is planned

• An enema may be taken two to four hours before the ultrasound to clean out the bowel.

SCANNING TECHNIQUE

Ultrasound procedures requiring insertion of the transducer, such as transvaginal or transrectal exams, the device is covered and lubricated.

PROSTATE ULTRASOUND SAMPLE PROTOCOL (TYPICALLY)

This sample protocol is meant for educational purposes and the exact technique will depend on the patient's clinical indication for the examination and the radiologist's guidance.

1. Lie on your side with your knees bent

2. A disposable protective cover is placed over the transducer

3. It is lubricated

4. Inserted through the anus and placed into the rectum

5. The images are obtained from different angles to get the best view of the prostate gland

FURTHER PROSTATE ULTRASOUND SAMPLE PROTOCOL PROCEDURES (TYPICALLY)

1. If a suspicious lesion is identified with ultrasound or with a rectal examination, an ultrasound-guided biopsy can be performed.

2. This procedure involves advancing a needle into the prostate gland while the radiologist watches the needle placement with ultrasound.

3. A small amount of tissue is taken for microscopic examination.

4. This ultrasound examination is usually completed in less than 20 minutes.

Benefits vs. Risks

Benefits

• Ultrasound is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods.

• Ultrasound imaging uses no ionizing radiation.

• Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.

• Ultrasound causes no health problems and may be repeated as often as is necessary if medically indicated.

• Ultrasound provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and needle aspiration.

Risks

• For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects on humans.

Limitations

Men who have had the tail end of their bowel (rectum) removed during prior surgery are not good candidates for ultrasound of the prostate gland because this type of ultrasound typically requires placing a probe into the rectum.

Useful Links:

Additional Information and ResourcesRadiologyInfo
Prostate Cancer:
www.RadiologyInfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pros_cancer

RTAnswers.org
Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer:
www.rtanswers.com/treatmentinformation/cancertypes/prostate/index.aspx 

Schedule Your Prostate Ultrasound Today! 

• If you are looking for professional radiology services at your imaging site/center, call us at 1-800-626-8315 or contact us for a consultation. 

• If you live in Los Angeles, Century City, Glendale, Mid-Wilshire and need to schedule a radiology examination such as a MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound, X ray, or PET scan, contact us to schedule an appointment. 

• If you are in search of other things, we're surprisingly resourceful!  Call us 1-800-626-8315 or contact us via our contact form.

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