How is a prostate biopsy performed

Very often, undergoing a series of examinations, medical researchers insist that men undergo such an analysis as a biopsy. Prostate biopsy is one of the modern research methods, which involves the collection of cellular tissues, which, according to the preliminary diagnosis of a urologist, are considered suspicious, in order to confirm or deny it.

For example, when an oncological tumor or adenoma in the prostate gland is suspected in a male individual, a mandatory biopsy is prescribed. To collect such cellular tissue, there is a special biopsy needle that looks like a long thin rod and is called a prostate adenoma biopsy. With the help of such a needle, specialists take the affected sections of the prostate tissue.

Perform a prostate biopsy using three methods:

• transrectal prostate biopsy method - the biopsy needle passes through the walls of the rectum;
• transurethral biopsy of the prostate - the biopsy needle is passed through the urinary canal;
• transverse - the biopsy needle is inserted in between the anal ring and the seminal sac.

This kind of analytical studies of the body are carried out by doctors for males in this case:

• when the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rises in the plasma, that is, a marker of oncological newly formed tumors in the area of the prostate gland when it grows extremely dynamically;
• when any lumps in the prostate gland are found during manual examinations;
• enlarged prostate when examined by ultrasound.

What is a prostate biopsy

Examination of the prostate gland is itself an invasive diagnostic manipulative work. But, since such an analysis is accompanied by large-scale risks and an increased level of trauma, it is forbidden to use the biopsy analysis method for patients who have contraindications to this.

Let's list the main indications:

• the phenomenon when the doctor suspects the occurrence of cancer cells in the prostate gland (then histological confirmation is necessary to determine the diagnosis);
• the need to establish the degree of oncology development processes;
• choice of tactics for cancer therapy and control over its passage;
• differentiation of diagnostic processes of prostate adenoma and cancer;
• a situation when differential diagnostics cannot be performed by other methods and the results of the analysis are required.

The results of a prostate biopsy cannot be used to cure the disease, but only with its help a specialist doctor can choose the appropriate tactics for therapeutic measures for cancer and other diseases of the inflamed prostate glands.

There are some cases in which a biopsy is contraindicated for a man:

• males over 81 years old;
• critical conditions in a man;
• a phenomenon in which concomitant diseases are present that aggravate the health situation in patients;
• acute viral disease or bacterial infection in the form of any localization;
• Plasma clotting disease.

There are several other separate contraindications for performing a transrectal biopsy, among them such as acute disease of the rectal region and pathology in which the anus is narrowed. In such diseases, there are indications for biopsy, but it is performed in other ways.

Description of biopsies

The transrectal cell harvesting method is considered the most common. The fact that it is so often used is due to the fact that the procedure is painless and is accompanied by minimal risks that complications and injuries may develop in the area of internal organs. How does a man get a prostate biopsy? When the transrectal method of taking tissue from the prostate glands is performed, the rectum is used as a place through which one can gain access to the cells necessary for sampling. Medical researchers often use the word "puncture" to refer to the examination of the prostate gland.

If a male individual has at least one of the contraindications to the use of the transrectal research method, some alternative methods are used:

• saturation method of collecting prostate cells. A similar one is used in cases where clinical and laboratory studies confirm the formation of cancer cells in the prostate gland, but other biopsy methods have not confirmed the results. Such an analysis is taken from the rectum or using the transperineal approach;
• transurethral biopsy method.It is performed using a cystoscope, inserted through the urine channels. During the procedure, the patient is given general anesthesia, which is the reason why men aged 80 years old cannot use this method;
• sextant conducting method. This method assumes that the specialist must take from at least six areas of different glandular tissues. Therefore, this method is not the most truthful.

Aspiration method. It is considered the most "ancient" method, so today it is carried out only in those clinical hospitals that are not equipped with ultrasound machines. When performing an aspiration biopsy, the doctor uses a rectal approach, that is, a rectal approach. Of the shortcomings, painful sensations and inaccuracies of the results can be identified. The reason is the lack of ultrasonic testing.

In addition to knowledge of the patient's body conditions and the peculiarities of his pathogenesis, this technique is directly related to the size of the prostate and the level of prostate-specific antigen in plasma.

How to Prepare for a Prostate Biopsy

Preparing for a prostate biopsy assumes that the patient is fully prepared for the procedure. In order to properly prepare for the procedure, it is necessary to undergo a set of therapeutic measures in order to prevent the development of possible complications at the end of taking cells for analysis.

In order for the preparation for a biopsy of the prostate gland to give a positive result in the end, you need to follow these rules:

It is necessary to stop taking medications that affect the clotting properties of plasma. Such medicines contain such components as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance and an anticoagulant. Termination must be at least one week before the procedure;

• the patient should start taking antibacterial medications in order to prevent possible infections. They drink pills for three days in order to conduct a biopsy of the prostate gland without consequences;
• in the evenings and two to three hours before the procedure, a man is given a cleansing enema, which must be used in order to cleanse the rectum from feces, since it prevents access to the prostate gland;
• do not eat food immediately before the procedure.

Before the procedure, the patient must prepare mentally, after which he is examined for the presence of concomitant pathology, which is a direct contraindication in order to carry out this event. Anesthesiologists determine the types of possible types of anesthesia and reveal a tendency to allergens to the components of anesthesia.

Biopsy progress

Prostate biopsy analysis - how is it done? To begin with, before the procedure, the man needs to establish the position of the body that will be most comfortable during the biopsy. If access to the necessary cells passes through the rectum, the patient should lie on his right side, pulling his knees up to the chest. You can put it on your back with your head down and your lower body up. With the urethral method of sampling the cells of the prostate gland, the man is placed on his back, and the lower part is lifted on special supports.

How is a biopsy done? The man is injected with anesthesia, after which the histology is examined using an ultrasound scan, using a special loop, removing samples of prostate tissue. Cellular materials are placed in saline and sent for histology. In the laboratory, the analysis is deciphered and an accurate result is displayed. The collection of cellular tissue can be done from 30 to 40 minutes.