Ultrasound Prostate
Ultrasound of the prostate uses sound waves to produce pictures of a man’s prostate gland and to help diagnose symptoms such as difficulty urinating or an elevated blood test result. It’s also used to investigate a nodule found during a rectal exam, detect abnormalities, and determine whether the gland is enlarged.
Description
What Is Ultrasound Prostate?
Ultrasound of the prostate uses sound waves to produce pictures of a man’s prostate gland and to help diagnose symptoms such as difficulty urinating or an elevated blood test result. It’s also used to investigate a nodule found during a rectal exam, detect abnormalities, and determine whether the gland is enlarged.
What are some common uses of the procedure?
A transrectal ultrasound of the prostate gland is performed to:
- Detect disorders within the prostate.
- Determine whether the prostate is enlarged, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with measurements acquired as needed for any treatment planning.
- Detect an abnormal growth within the prostate.
- Help diagnose the cause of a man’s infertility.
A transrectal ultrasound of the prostate gland is typically used to help diagnose symptoms such as:
- A nodule felt by a physician during a routine physical exam or prostate cancer screening exam.
- An elevated blood test result.
- Difficulty urinating.
Because ultrasound provides real-time images, it also can be used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which a needle is used to sample cells (tissue) from an abnormal area in the prostate gland for later laboratory testing.
