Two problems face men who have a high PSA or abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE). First, they are often referred for a conventional TRUS needle biopsy of the prostate because there is suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa). Second, multiparametric MRI is considered too time-consuming and expensive for routine determination of the need for a biopsy….
Terrific news and a great way to start off 2017! On January 17, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet issued online publication of a British study, “Diagnostic accuracy of multi-parametric MRI and TRUS biopsy in prostate cancer (PROMIS): a paired validating confirmatory study” (Ahmed et al., 2017). This large trial validated the importance of multiparametric…
If your doctor has recommended that you undergo a prostate biopsy to examine your tissues for prostate cancer, you’re probably reading everything you can find on the procedure. It’s important to become an informed patient. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect during the procedure. Every man’s experience is different. For some it…
So you’ve overcome your fear of prostate exams and have finally gotten the ordeal over with. Hopefully, your doctor has informed you that all is well and there is no cause for concern. But in the event that your doctor does detect any abnormalities, such as a potentially cancerous growth, he will recommend that you…
Men who are considering a prostate biopsy may take comfort in the results of a new study which showed the hospitalization rate is low after prostate biopsy–less than 1%. The study was presented as a poster at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 23, 2012. Prostate biopsy is a test…
Approximately one million prostate biopsies are performed each year in the United States, typically to help identify whether a man has prostate cancer. This moderately invasive technique (which involves inserting a needle into the prostate about a dozen times to collect tissue samples) is associated with some health risks. Specifically, prostate biopsy and infection risk…
How to prepare for a prostate biopsy is something you may wonder about if you and your doctor have determined that you will undergo this procedure. First you need to fully understand the benefits and risks associated with the prostate biopsy. After that, there are several steps you need to take to prepare for the biopsy….
Can a prostate biopsy cause infection? If your doctor has scheduled a prostate biopsy for you, should you be worried about serious complications and infection? Considering the findings of a new study—and several previous ones–it’s a topic you should raise with your physician when considering your prostate biopsy recovery. Johns Hopkins researchers reveal a significant increase…
After conducting a survey among urologists, a research team from Oakland University determined that a study is needed to find ways to prevent prostate biopsy complications. The challenge will be to identify a practice protocol most urologists will follow. More than one million prostate biopsies are performed each year in the United States. A prostate…
Can a prostate biopsy cause prostatitis is a question asked by many men before undertaking a prostate biopsy procedure to see if they have prostate cancer. If your doctor has recommended you undergo a prostate biopsy because he or she suspects you may have prostate cancer, is there a possibility you could develop prostatitis after the biopsy? Although…
Question: What do transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy and MRI prostate scans have in common? Answer: Almost nothing. While both try to find cancer in a walnut-sized gland tucked away in the pelvic bed, there’s no comparison. Noninvasive MRI detects prostate cancer better than conventional invasive TRUS biopsy. In fact, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is so…
In medicine, change sometimes happens with two steps forward but one step back. For example, in the early 20th century, delivering babies in hospitals became more popular than home births in order to have “painless” births with anesthesia. However, for many women the higher complication and infection rates proved to be a setback. Thankfully, problems…
Men who have a large prostate or who have been hospitalized during the year prior to undergoing prostate biopsy are at increased risk for prostate biopsy complications. These were the results of a study presented on May 21, 2012 at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. More than one million prostate biopsies…
Did you ever make a pinhole camera when you were young? Pinhole cameras are the most basic type of camera. All you need is a closed box with a black interior, a pinhole in one side, and some type of film opposite the side with the pinhole. They capture pretty good pictures, depending on the…
