Can Abdominal Ultrasound Detect Prostate Cancer

How Do Doctors Screen For Prostate Cancer

Screening for a disease involves testing for it even if no symptoms or history of the illness are present. Because all men are at risk for prostate cancer, especially older men, getting screened is an important health care step for any man to take. For men not experiencing prostate cancer symptoms, the most common screening method is a prostate-specific antigen blood test.

A PSA is a protein created by cells within the prostate gland. A blood test designed to assess PSA levels measures the concentration of PSA within a patients blood. Although there is no definitive cutoff number, the higher the PSA level in a mans blood, the greater the chances he has prostate cancer.

Typically, men without prostate cancer have a PSA level under 4 nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood , which means those with PSA test results above 4 ng/mL may require further testing. While the likelihood of a patient having prostate cancer decreases dramatically with a 4 ng/mL result, some doctors may request that those with lower PSA levels get additional testing. When done in tandem with other scans and tests, a PSA blood test can help medical professionals provide a more accurate prostate cancer diagnosis.

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Transrectal Ultrasound With Prostate Biopsy

Transrectal ultrasound is most often used to examine the prostate. In a transrectal ultrasound, the health care provider inserts a transducer slightly larger than a pen into the mans rectum next to the prostate. The ultrasound image shows the size of the prostate and any abnormal-looking areas, such as tumors. Transrectal ultrasound cannot definitively identify prostate cancer.

To determine whether a tumor is cancerous, the health care provider uses the transducer and ultrasound images to guide a needle to the tumor. The needle is then used to remove a few pieces of prostate tissue for examination with a microscope. This process, called biopsy, can reveal whether prostate cancer is present. A transrectal ultrasound with prostate biopsy is usually performed by a doctor in a health care providers office, outpatient center, or hospital with light sedation and local anesthesia. The biopsied prostate tissue is examined in a laboratory by a pathologista doctor who specializes in diagnosing diseases.

The Ultrasound Examination Of The Prostate Gland Performed Through The Abdominal Integuments And The Assessment Of The Amount Of Residual Urine In The Urinal Bladder

The ultrasound examination of the prostate gland performed through the abdominal integuments is a part of the examination of the abdominal organs and it should be mandatorily performed especially in patients in whom dysuric symptoms are found such as frequent urination during day and night, urging needs to urinate, the feeling that the urinary bladder has not been completely emptied. An addition to the examination especially when the prostate gland is enlarged should be the measurement of the capacity of the urinary bladder and the assessment of the amount of residual urine after voiding.

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What Is Ultrasound Imaging Of The Prostate

Ultrasound is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called ultrasound scanning or sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation . Because images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs. They can also show blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

Prostate ultrasound, also called transrectal ultrasound, provides images of a man’s prostate gland and surrounding tissue. The exam typically requires insertion of an ultrasound probe into the rectum of the patient. The probe sends and receives sound waves through the wall of the rectum into the prostate gland which is situated right in front of the rectum.

Use Of Mri For Surveillance Of Prostate Cancer

The concept of observation as a therapeutic option for men with clinically localized prostate cancer has been well established and is associated with excellent long-term progression-free survival in men with favorable malignancy on prostate biopsy. Chodak et al. demonstrated in a large multi-institutional pooled analysis of 828 men that conservative therapy, also known as watchful waiting, resulted in disease-specific survival of 87% at 10 years for men with either grade 1 or grade 2 cancer. The finding that the metastasis-free survival for men with Grade 2 adenocarcinoma was only 58% at 10 years suggested that there was a role for a more active monitoring strategy in some men.125 More contemporary trials, including PIVOT and Protec T, support surveillance rather immediate treatment in contemporary patients, most likely to get diagnosed with serum PSA where the risk of overdiagnosis has been established.126,127

Despite this conclusion, significant opportunities exist for further refinement of active surveillance protocols to better risk-stratify men at initial entry into these protocols and to better target the regions of the prostate that could harbor a malignancy that would require a delayed therapeutic intervention. The combination of advanced imaging with MRI, altered biopsy approaches, , and the use of molecular markers appear to improve the outcomes of active surveillance.

Key Point

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Can An Ultrasound Detect Cancer

A special type of imaging test, an ultrasound produces information that can be helpful for diagnosing cancer, particularly in soft tissues. Oftentimes, it is used as the first step in the standard cancer diagnostic process.

Ultrasound offers many benefits for instance, a test can be performed relatively quickly and cost effectively without exposing the patient to radiation. However, ultrasound does not produce images with the same level of clarity or detail as a CT or MRI scan, nor can it confirm a cancer diagnosis on its own.

What Happens After A Prostate Ultrasound

Once the test is done, you can take off the gown and put your clothes back on. Your rectum may feel tender for a few days, but you wont need to follow any specific aftercare instructions. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.

In some cases, your doctor or technician may ask you to wait in the facility until your results are available. Youll usually need to wait a few days for a radiologist to look at the images and diagnose any conditions, however. Depending on where the test was done, you may wait up to two weeks for results.

Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss your test results. If you have any abnormalities or conditions that are visible on the images, your doctor will point out these areas. Excess tissue, prostate enlargement, or cancerous tumors will appear on the ultrasound images as bright white areas that represent the dense tissue.

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Why Is A Prostate

A PSA blood test is performed to detect or rule out prostate cancer. The amount of PSA in the blood is often higher in men who have prostate cancer. However, an elevated PSA level does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the PSA blood test for use in conjunction with a DRE to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 or older and for monitoring men with prostate cancer after treatment. However, much remains unknown about how to interpret a PSA blood test, its ability to discriminate between cancer and problems such as BPH and prostatitis, and the best course of action if the PSA level is high.

When done in addition to a DRE, a PSA blood test enhances detection of prostate cancer. However, the test is known to have relatively high false-positive rates. A PSA blood test also may identify a greater number of medically insignificant lumps or growths, called tumors, in the prostate. Health care providers and patients should weigh the benefits of PSA blood testing against the risks of follow-up diagnostic tests. The procedures used to diagnose prostate cancer may cause significant side effects, including bleeding and infection.

How Should I Prepare

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.

You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.

You may be instructed to avoid taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, for seven to 10 days prior to the procedure if a biopsy is planned. An enema may be taken two to four hours before the ultrasound to clean out the bowel.

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Acute And Chronic Prostatitis

The prevalence of prostatitis ranges between 5% and 11%. Prostatitis occurs at any age and its incidence increases with age. Acute bacterial prostatitis often begins with chills and fever, lower abdominal discomfort, perineal pain and burning on urination. In chronic bacterial prostatitis perineal pain and increased frequency of painful voiding are the most common symptoms. Acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis with confirmed or suspected infection should be distinguished from chronic pelvic pain syndrome , according to the classification suggested by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases . The pathophysiology of prostatitis is not well understood. In patients with prostatitis, the activities of prostatic antibacterial factor are decreased and the pH is very alkaline. Bacteria invade the prostate by an ascending urethral infection, by reflux of infected urine into prostatic ducts or by lymphatic/haematogenous spread. Acute bacterial prostatitis appears in US as a hypoechoic rim around the prostate and colour Doppler shows an increased flow . A prostate abscess appears sonographically as a hypoechogenic walled-off collection of fluid. In chronic bacterial prostatitis a diffuse increased enhancement of contrast agent may be found. US contrast agents show an increased perfusion of the prostate during acute and chronic infection, however they are not used in routine clinical practice since no studies regarding this issue have been performed.

How Do I Get Ready For A Prostate/rectal Ultrasound

• Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure and you can ask questions. Make a list of questions and any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure. Consider bringing a family member or trusted friend to the medical appointment to help you remember your questions and concerns.

• You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.

• You may be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin, for a week or so before the test if it is being done as part of a biopsy.

• You usually do not need to stop eating or drinking before the test. You also usually will not need medicine to help you relax .

• You may be given a small enema before the test.

• Follow any other instructions your provider gives you to get ready.

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Getting A Prostate Ultrasound For Prostate Cancer

A prostate ultrasound is often used early as a way of diagnosing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a small gland that makes seminal fluid and is one of the most common types of cancer in men.

Prostate cancer usually grows over time, staying within the prostate gland at first, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. The earlier you catch your prostate cancer, the better your chance of successful treatment.

If your doctor suspects you might have prostate cancer they will conduct a number of tests which may include a prostate-specific antigen test, a digital exam of your prostate, and an ultrasound. If your blood work comes back and your PSA is high, your prostate feels abnormal upon exam and the ultrasound show signs of cancer, your doctor will likely want to do a biopsy.

Tests To Diagnose And Stage Prostate Cancer

Most prostate cancers are first found as a result of screening. Early prostate cancers usually dont cause symptoms, but more advanced cancers are sometimes first found because of symptoms they cause.

If prostate cancer is suspected based on results of screening tests or symptoms, tests will be needed to be sure. If youre seeing your primary care doctor, you might be referred to a urologist, a doctor who treats cancers of the genital and urinary tract, including the prostate.

The actual diagnosis of prostate cancer can only be made with a prostate biopsy .

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A Note On Suspicious Results

A suspicious result indicates that the biopsy sample contained some abnormalities but no cancer was found. There are a couple of potential explanations for a suspicious prostate biopsy result, including:

• Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia refers to changes within prostate cells that are abnormal, but not indicative of cancer. This condition is low-grade or high-grade, depending on how abnormal the cells are. Low-grade PIN is very common and isn’t associated with prostate cancer. High-grade PIN, however, is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. If you have high-grade PIN after a prostate biopsy, your doctor may recommend that biomarker tests be performed on the sample to learn more about the cells. Alternatively, another prostate biopsy may be suggested.
• Atypical small acinar proliferation indicates that the biopsy sample contains some cells that appear to be cancerous, but not enough to confirm the diagnosis. In most cases, this finding suggests that another prostate biopsy is needed.
• Proliferative inflammatory atrophy describes a prostate biopsy that reveals inflammation in the prostate and abnormally small prostate cells. While these cells arent cancerous, having PIA may be associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Where To Find The Ultrasound Equipment You Need

Is your practice ready to provide cancer screenings for men? Testicular ultrasounds, prostate ultrasounds and prostate biopsies are universally agreed upon as advanced diagnostic tools. If you want to learn even more about these ultrasound tools, . Be prepared for mens health screenings this month and find the ultrasound equipment thats right for your practice!

Looking for testicular or prostate ultrasound equipment? Contact MedCorp LLC by emailing or by calling 1-855-456-5372.

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What Do My Scan Results Mean

Your TNM stage is used to work out if your cancer is localised, locally advanced or advanced. This can help your doctor see how far it has spread and which treatment might be suitable for you.

Cancer thatâs contained inside the prostate. Sometimes called early prostate cancer. Possible TNM stages are:

• T stage: T1 or T2
• N stage: N0 or NX
• M stage: M0 or MX.

Cancer thatâs started to break out of the prostate, or has spread to the area just outside it. Possible TNM stages are:

• T stage: T1 or T2
• N stage: N1

• T stage: T3 or T4
• N stage: N0 or N1
• M stage: M0.

How Does A Pelvic Ct Scan Detect Cancers

A pelvic CT scan works by using computed tomography to create images of the inside of your body. In other words, this technology combines X-rays and computers to create more detailed images than you can get with an X-ray on its own. For the process, you sit in a machine while a narrow X-ray beam circles around one part of your body. In this case, the images are of your pelvis, and the machine takes thin slices of images which are stacked on top of each other to create compelling and useful images.

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Further Testing For Advanced Cancer

If there’s a significant chance the cancer has spread from your prostate to other parts of the body, further tests may be recommended.

These include:

• an MRI scan, CT scan or PET scan these scans build a detailed picture of the inside of your body
• an isotope bone scan, which can tell if the cancer has spread to your bones a small amount of radiation dye is injected into the vein and then collects in parts of the bone where there are any abnormalities

Imaging Tests For Prostate Cancer

Imaging tests use x-rays, magnetic fields, sound waves, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. One or more imaging tests might be used:

• To look for cancer in the prostate
• To help the doctor see the prostate during certain procedures
• To look for spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body

Which tests you might need will depend on the situation. For example, a prostate biopsy is typically done with transrectal ultrasound and/or MRI to help guide the biopsy. If you are found to have prostate cancer, you might need imaging tests of other parts of your body to look for possible cancer spread.

The imaging tests used most often to look for prostate cancer spread include:

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What Is Pelvic Ultrasound Imaging

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation . Because ultrasound captures images in real-time, it can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs. The images can also show blood flowing through blood vessels.

There are three types of pelvic ultrasound:

• vaginal for women
• rectal for men

A Doppler ultrasound exam may be part of a pelvic ultrasound examination.

Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates movement of materials in the body. It allows the doctor to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the body.