What is a prostate biopsy?
Prostate glands are only found in men and are about the size of a walnut. Your prostate gland is located just below your bladder and in front of your rectum (back passage). Its function is to produce white fluid that becomes part of your semen. A prostate biopsy is where small samples of tissue are taken from your prostate gland using a very small needle. The samples are then sent to be examined under a microscope by a specialist.
Why this procedure
A transperineal prostate biopsy can comprehensively sample the whole gland to find out whether any of your prostate cells have become cancerous or, if you have pre-existing cancer, whether the cancer has changed. It can also diagnose other conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate), prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate, usually caused by a bacterial infection) or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), which is a change in the cell type but not cancer.
Transperineal biopsies have a reduced risk of infection over transrectal biopsies.
What is the procedure
This procedure involves using an ultrasound probe, inserted via the back passage, to scan the prostate. Overlaying a previously taken high-definition image (MRI) onto the live ultrasound image and using an advanced software package (MRI fusion) ensure that the samples can be taken with great accuracy.
Biopsies are taken through a special grid with holes spaced 5mm apart, through the skin behind the testicles (the perineum).
The samples are targeted to the abnormal lesion on the MRI scan fused with the live ultrasound image and combined with a systematic biopsy to sample the gland comprehensively. The number of samples taken depends on the size of the prostate, usually ranging from 24 ¬- 36 samples.
Before, during and after the procedure
The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic but you will only be admitted to hospital for the day. You will be asked not to eat for 6 hours prior to your procedure and not to drink for 3 hours prior. The procedure lasts for 30 ¬ 40 minutes.
After the procedure you will be transferred to the recovery area where you can get some rest. You should be able to go home the same day, after you have passed urine.
You can’t drive home if you have had a general anaesthetic because it takes some time to recover.
You may experience a little stinging the first few times you pass urine. Make sure that you drink plenty of water, it will actually help you pass urine more easily.