What can be expected with a prostate ultrasound and biopsy?
The prostate is located at the base of the bladder and encircles the urethra like a napkin ring. The prostate provides a portion of ejaculatory fluid, which is important for reproduction. Enlargement of the prostate may cause obstruction of the bladder. The most common indication for a prostate ultrasound (also known as a transrectal ultrasound) is to evaluate men considered at risk for prostate cancer (see prostate cancer screening). Because early prostate cancer cannot be reliably diagnosed by the ultrasound appearance of the prostate alone, the study is usually performed in association with a simultaneous prostate biopsy (see biopsy). Another common indication for ultrasound is obtaining the volume or size of the prostate for treatment planning purposes. Patients being considered for radioactive seed implantation to treat prostate cancer (brachytherapy) undergo transrectal ultrasound of the prostate to determine prostatic volume. This is necessary to plan the distribution and number
