What is a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy of the prostate ?
Prostatic biopsies are most often carried out under ultrasound guidance. A lubricated sheathed transrectal ultrasound probe is passed into the back passage and the prostate gland examined to identify any obvious abnormalities within the peripheral zone of the prostate. The ultrasound machine will detect differences in the sonographic echoes observed within different parts of the prostate. Prostate cancers are often described as hypoechoic (echopoor) areas with irregular borders, however this is not a rule and experience has shown that only 1/3 of hypoechoic areas turn out to contain cancer. Likewise a 1/3 of cancers may comprise hyperechoic or isoechoic areas. The prostate gland is comprised of three distinct glandular zones: The transition zone surrounds the urethra and is the site where benign prostatic enlargement occurs. It provides the central core, which is removed during a Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). The peripheral zone encompasses the posterolateral aspect
