Prostate biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample or biopsy of prostate tissue for microscopic examination.

When is it necessary?

This purpose of prostate biopsy is to determine if the patient has prostate cancer. Prostate symptoms may be similiar for all prostate problem. Prostate biopsy is recommended when a gloved-finger examination of the prostate though the rectum or digital rectal examination reveals a lump or some other abnormality in the prostate suspicious of prostate cancer. Prostate biopsy may also be necessary when blood tests of a marker for prostate cancer known as Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA, is elevated.

How is Prostate Biopsy carried out?

Prostate biopsy is usually done in the doctor’s clinic or in the hospital operating room. The patient lies on his side. An ultrasound probe is used to guide the needle into any abnormal areas. When ultrasound guidance is used for the prostate biopsy, the procedure is called a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy, or TRUS. The patient can go home after a short period of observation. No hospitalization is required for the prostate biopsy.

What can I expect after the prostate biopsy?

Prostate biopsy is a low-risk procedure. The possible symptoms following prostate biopsy include some bleeding in the urine, bleeding from the rectum, prostate infection or inability to urinate. The last 2 situations are uncommon. All these symptoms are temporary and treatable. If there is persistent bleeding, pain, or fever, or if the patient is unable to urinate, the patient should contact the clinic immediately.

The patient should avoid strenuous actions following a prostate biopsy.

How should I prepare for prostate biopsy?

Before the prostate biopsy, inform the doctor of all the medications you are taking especially blood thinners such as Aspirin, Cardiprin, Plavix, Warfarin, Persantin; any drug allergies, and if there was any previous bleeding problems. No fasting is required.

What can I expect from the prostate biopsy report?

The prostate biopsy specimen will be analyzed under the microscope by a qualified and experienced pathologist for prostate cancer. Normal prostate tissue has certain characteristics that the prostate cancer lacks.

When prostate cancer is present, the pathologist "grades" the prostate cancer. This is to estimate how aggressive the prostate cancer is. The grading system for prostate cancer is called the "Gleason Score." Under the Gleason system, prostate cancers are graded according to how closely they resemble normal prostate tissue. The system assigns a score ranging from 2 to 10 for each prostate cancer.