I.  UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE BIOPSIES

Your prostate gland is located at the base of your urinary bladder.  It is normally the size of a walnut and surrounds the tube (urethra) through which urine passes from your bladder to the outside of your body.  The prostate produces the liquid that mixes with sperm to make semen.

I can examine your prostate in two ways.  First, I can actually feel its rear surface during a rectal exam because it sits just in front of your rectum.  Second, I can take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab where the amount of prostate -specific antigen (PSA) can be measured.  Abnormalities found with these exams may indicate prostate cancer, non-cancerous (benign) tumors, infection, or even the normal effects of getting older.  A biopsy is sometimes needed to determine the exact problem.

A biopsy enables me to obtain small bits of tissue from your prostate .  The tissue will be sent to a pathology laboratory to be examined carefully under a microscope by a specialist physician (pathologist).  The pathologist will send us a report that will tell us whether an abnormality is present, whether it is benign or cancerous (malignant), and, to some extent, how dangerous the problem appears to be.  This information is essential in order for us to know if you need further treatment and, if so, what kind of treatment is likely to be most successful.  We will discuss your unique clinical circumstances before the biopsy procedure to decide if a different approach should be considered.

II.  PROCEDURE

A prostate biopsy can be done safely in my office.  You will remain awake during the procedure.

Using ultrasound to help me place the needle accurately, I will insert a needle into your prostate through your rectum.  I will then withdraw a small amount of prostate tissue through the needle.  I may take samples of tissue from different parts of your prostate to create a “map” of the gland.  The tissue samples will then be sent to a laboratory for diagnosis.

Though you may feel mild discomfort, it is unusual for men to complain of severe pain during the procedure.