Ultrasound examination of the prostate how to decipher the results yourself

Ultrasound diagnostics of the male prostate is a popular and affordable method for many patients to study the prostate gland and the presence of problems in it. The results of an ultrasound scan of the male prostate gland, the decoding of which is not always clear and understandable to a simple patient, force each patient to seek medical advice. But you can try to decipher some points and figure it out on your own.

The structure of the prostate

First, a little theory. The prostate gland resembles an ordinary chestnut in shape, divided into two halves and it is located in the small pelvis, just below the bladder. In the prostate itself, there are up to 50 glands with ducts, which, as a result of fusion, form the outlet of the urethra. Another part of the prostate connects to the diaphragm.

Doctors divide the gland into several zones, which are responsible for their own characteristics. There are usually three parts of the prostate gland: inferolateral, superior, and inferior. There is a seminal tubercle behind the prostate where the male sperm forms. The gland also consists of fibromuscular tissue. All these parts today can be examined using ultrasound and precisely establish the site of inflammation or other disease.

When to have an ultrasound scan

A doctor prescribes diagnostics of the prostate for a man in case of complaints of a violation in the work of the urinary system, intimate life. Also, the study can be carried out after passing the tests, where a malfunction of the gland was diagnosed or after examining the patient.

Among the main symptoms, after which they give a referral for an ultrasound scan, they note:

• pain in the pelvic area.
• pain when going to the bathroom, weak urine stream, or frequent urge to use the bathroom.
• lack of erection.
• pain in the kidney area.
• complaints about the genital or urinary system and other organs in men over the age of 40.

Types of ultrasound for examining the gland

Most often, the prostate gland is examined using the following methods:

• Transabdominal ultrasound (the most affordable and common option. The procedure is painless and simple, has no contraindications to use. The ultrasound results are quite clear and understandable. The analysis itself is performed in the lower abdomen).
• Transperinal ultrasound (similar to the previous type of ultrasound, but the sensor takes a picture in the area of the perineal surface. Thus, the apex of the prostate is carefully examined, but in inferior quality).
• Transurethral ultrasound (a rather traumatic method for which you need to properly prepare. But as a result of the study, you can get a very clear picture of the prostate. After such an ultrasound, the patient may experience complications, for example, urinary retention, therefore, it is used very rarely. / li>
• Transrectal ultrasound (a universal option for conducting a study that shows a complete high-quality picture of the entire prostate gland. But for such an ultrasound, the device sensor must be inserted into the anus, which causes unpleasant sensations in men. rectal problems.

How to prepare for an ultrasound of the prostate

If the patient was prescribed a transabdominal ultrasound, then special preparation for its conduct is not required. To conduct an ultrasound scan, you need to have a little urine in the bladder - for this, it is enough to drink a liter of water an hour before the ultrasound scan. First of all, the patient always undergoes a transabdominal ultrasound, and if after it the problem needs to be treated or studied further more deeply, then other types of analysis are performed.

If the patient is going to conduct a transrectal study, then he needs to cleanse the intestines with an enema before visiting a specialist. If a patient has suspicions of a disease or damage to the rectum, then sigmoidoscopy or sigmoidoscopy - examination of the rectal mucosa - should be performed before an ultrasound scan.

How is an ultrasound of the prostate gland going

During transabdominal ultrasound, the patient lies down on a couch or urological chair, and the doctor examines the gland using a special sensor from the pubis upwards. The gland is analyzed up and down, changing the movement of the sensor to obtain the most accurate image.

For a transrectal examination, the patient is placed on his left side and his legs are pressed to his stomach. A condom is put on the ultrasound sensor and, with the help of lubricant, it is inserted into the anus by 6-7 centimeters. Sometimes a condom is filled with water to get the clearest possible image and examine all parts of the prostate.

What is measured on an ultrasound of the prostate

During the study, a specialist usually determines the size of the male prostate, examines the clarity of its contours and tissue homogeneity.As a result of ultrasound, the following parameters should be indicated: width, length and thickness of the prostate gland, volume of the gland (calculated using a special formula for multiplying all sizes by 0.52) and other details indicated by the doctor in the direction for examination.

Explanation of ultrasound of the prostate

In order to correctly decipher the results of an ultrasound scan, you need to know what indicators the specialist studied during the study. Most often it is the size, uniformity, echogenicity, the presence or absence of stones, cysts, seals, as well as the condition of the ducts through which the sperm passes.

Prostate Size - The male prostate can vary in size depending on the age of the man. In a 25-year-old boy, the iron assumes a constant size and under normal conditions it no longer increases. If a man has had pathologies or serious illnesses, then the structure and size of the prostate gland may change. Thus, the work of the genitourinary system may be disrupted and even a malignant tumor or inflammatory process may develop, which will spread to other organs.

During a prostate examination, the transcript may include several points. Normally, the volume of the prostate should be from 18 to 26 cubic centimeters, and the length from 2.5 to 4 centimeters, width - 3-4.5 centimeters, thickness one and a half to two centimeters. The contours in a healthy gland are clear and even. The echogenicity of the gland should be medium, and the structure should be fine-grained. The shape of the prostate should be semicircular or triangular. The exact ratio of the size of the prostate and the age of a man is determined by the Gromov formula - the volume of the prostate is 0.13 times the patient's age plus 16.4.

How to decipher ultrasound for prostate diseases

Deciphering an ultrasound of the prostate in case of a patient's diseases is also simple. Most often, the analysis is deciphered by the doctor. For example, as a result of the study, the main sign of the presence of prostate adenoma will be an impressive change in the size of the gland and the presence of seals, cysts in the structure, as well as increased echogenicity up to 7 millimeters. A diffuse prostate will have a heterogeneous structure.

If the patient's echogenicity has increased, then this means that the disease is chronic, and if it has decreased, the presence of an inflammatory process. The development of an abscess will be characterized by anechoic or hypoechoic formation, cysts. Uneven and indistinct contours of the gland and the lack of echogenicity may indicate a malignant tumor. Also, in this case, there may be seals of various echogenicity and an increase in lymph nodes by two or more centimeters in the groin area. If there are such indicators, then the patient is sent for additional tests.

It should be noted that small formations up to 5 millimeters can be present in the body of a healthy man.

The presence of stones requires a separate decryption. These are small formations that are characterized by very high echogenicity. The sizes of stones can be different and there can be one or several stones in the gland at once.

In conclusion, we can say that almost all diseases of the male prostate can be diagnosed using ultrasound. The reliability of this type of examination is also quite high and accurate, more than 80%. In almost all cases of diseases, the doctor first of all prescribes for a man a test and an ultrasound examination