CAN THE EXAMINATION HARM YOUR HEALTH This examination has no ionizing radiation, neither it can cause lasting harmful effects on human health. You may experience some side effects from the procedure: • more frequent urination, burning during urination; • discomfort in the scrotum – the dual-chambered protuberance; • blood or brown color of sperm which could last for 30-90 days. All the above complications are transitory and negligible.
S p e c ial H o s p it al
„Filip Vtori“
Phone: +389 2 3091- 484; www.cardiosurgery.com.mk
TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND AND PROSTATE BIOPSY
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS MANNER OF EXAMINATION
The only way to reduce mortality from prostate cancer is its early detection. Success in treatment is achieved only if the disease is detected in its initial stages, when it is clinically with no symptomatology. The classical surgical interventions – radical prostatectomy is used for complete taking out of a prostate together with its capsule, and represents treatment of choice in the early stages of the disease. Not only sophistication within diagnostic frames exists, but also the transrectal review and the prostate biopsy is the only prescribed procedure (according to the guidelines of the European Association of Urology) which can be used to prove the prostate cancer.
THE PROSTATE is a gland in the male genital system which participates in the formation of the ejaculate – the semen fluid. Through it, part of the urethra passes – which is the channel through which urine and semen pass. The prostate is located in front of the rectum – the large intestine, and under the bladder. In the mandatory health examinations, an examination of the prostate is also indicated, which includes digital rectal prostate examination, transrectal prostate ultrasound and determination of value of the tumor marker – PSA. 201a
WHEN SHOULD A REGULAR PROSTATE EXAMINATION BE PERFORMEDЕ Every man with more than 50 years of age should visit his personal urologist, for prostate check and for early detection of benign and malignant changes of the gland. One more reason is that prostate cancer is one of the leading malignant diseases in the male population.
EXAMINATION PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUE: An ultrasound – an echo is used, with a so called endorectal probe which is being covered with gel and a condom before the examination, and then it is inserted in the rectum at about 2 cm. The probe generates ultrasound waves through which an image of your prostate is presented on a screen. Information about the size, shape, structure, limitation and weight of the prostate is received through that image, as well as about the possible pathological changes in the tissue which may have malignant characteristics. Only this way the necessary information about the prostate condition can be obtained, while the echo-examination of the prostate through the stomach (transabdominal prostate ultrasound) has numerous disadvantages, i.e. only the size and the weight of the prostate can be determined.
PROSTATE BIOPSY
Biopsy is performed in case when suspicion of prostate cancer exists and in order to exclude or prove such suspicion, and it is performed by taking small pieces of prostate tissue. If you take anticoagulant therapy – aspirin or other preparations, you should inform your urologist about this. The procedure itself is performed with the same equipment, by using a biopsy needle which is mounted on the described probe. By sticking a needle in the prostate, at the moment while the needle passes through the prostate, the doctor is talking a part of the prostate tissue. Then, that sample is sent to a pathologist who analyzes it and determines diagnosis. Your urologist will inform you about the results of the examination.