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Beginning at age 40, your doctor will check your prostate each year as part of your physical. Prostate cancer is one of the leading forms of the disease in older males, and routine checks ensure early detection. Finding an issue sooner means more available treatment options and a better chance of recovery and remission. If an abnormality is detected, your doctor will recommend a prostate biopsy. For those uncertain about what’s involved, below is everything you need to know about the procedure.

Your Complete Guide to a Prostate Biopsy

Why Does a Doctor Order a Biopsy?

The biopsy is a follow-up to a test that suggested some form of tissue abnormality. Although they are generally performed as part of a cancer screening, biopsies also help determine if the finding is a cyst or caused by another illness.

What Is Done During the Biopsy?

A sample of the abnormal tissue is taken and analyzed for signs of cancer and other diseases. With a prostate biopsy, your doctor will likely use ultrasound to guide a needle through your rectum and into the prostate to collect between six and 12 samples. In rare cases, they may perform a transurethral biopsy, in which a lighted lens is inserted through the urethra and samples are taken with a microscopic loop; or a transperineal biopsy, in which an incision is made to the perineal and tissue is taken from the prostate.

Is It Painful & Are There Side Effects?

You can expect some pain during the procedure, although your doctor may use a local anesthetic. Side-effects following the biopsy include difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or semen, and bleeding from the site of the incision. There have been reports of urinary infections following prostate biopsies, but these are rare.

Results

prostate biopsyAfter taking your sample, it is sent to a pathology lab for analysis. Results are typically ready in a few days but can take longer if there are any complications or difficulty with the reading. If inconclusive, your doctor may order another biopsy.

Follow-Up

Once your doctor receives your results, their office will contact you to let you know if they were positive or negative. If they are negative, you are in the clear and will not need your prostate checked until the following year. If the results are positive, your doctor may order follow-up testing such as an MRI or PET scan to determine how far the cancer has spread and decide the best course of treatment.

 

If you need a prostate biopsy, contact Main Street Radiology in Queens, NY, at (718) 428-1500 to schedule an appointment. Serving the community for nearly 50 years, their compassionate team has the experience and state-of-the-art equipment to provide precise diagnosis and quality treatment. For more information on their services and procedures, visit their website today.

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