Prostate Gland Needle Biopsy

What you should know

• A prostate gland needle biopsy is a procedure to remove samples of tissue from your prostate gland. Your prostate gland is the male sex gland that makes the fluid part of your semen (fluid containing sperm). Your prostate gland is found below your bladder and surrounds the top of your urethra. Your urethra is a tube that carries urine outside your body. You may need a prostate biopsy if your prostate felt abnormal during a rectal exam. You may also need a prostate biopsy if you have a high prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. A high PSA level may mean your prostate gland is enlarged or you have an infection. A high PSA level may also be a sign of prostate cancer.
  
  
• During your procedure, a needle is used to take samples of tissue from your prostate gland. A prostate gland biopsy may help you learn the cause of your prostate problem. Learning the cause of your prostate problem will allow you to get proper treatment. If you have prostate cancer, the sooner it is found, the easier it may be to treat. Learning you have prostate cancer and getting treatment may help prevent the cancer from spreading.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• During your procedure, your blood pressure may drop, making you feel dizzy. You may feel pain during and after your procedure. Your bladder, prostate, urethra, and nearby tissues or organs may be damaged during the procedure. After your procedure, you may have bruises and bleeding from your rectum. You may have blood in your urine, bowel movements (BMs), or semen. You may get a fever or an infection in your urinary tract or prostate gland. The infection may spread to your blood and the rest of your body.
  
  
• If you have prostate cancer, the biopsy tissue samples may not show the cancer. If your biopsy results are not correct, you may not get the treatment you need. Sometimes, the biopsy may show cancer when there is no cancer in your prostate gland. If this happens, you may get cancer treatment you do not need. You may need another prostate biopsy. Anxiety about your biopsy results may lead to problems with sex. Problems include no desire for sex and trouble getting an erection (hardening of the penis).
  
  
• If you do not have a prostate gland biopsy, you may not learn the cause of your prostate problem. You may not get proper treatment. A prostate gland infection may cause pain and problems when you urinate. An enlarged prostate gland may block your urine flow. If you have prostate cancer, it may spread to other areas of your body. When cancer spreads to other areas, it is harder to treat. Prostate cancer can be life-threatening, and you may die. Talk with your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your procedure, condition, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your procedure:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure or surgery.
  
  
• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• You may need to start taking antibiotic medicine one day before your procedure. Antibiotic medicine helps prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria. You may also need to take antibiotic medicine after your procedure.

The night before your procedure:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.
  
  
• You may be given an enema (liquid medicine put in your rectum) to help clean out your bowel. Your rectum is the lowest section of bowel that holds your stool until you have a bowel movement (BM).
  
  
• You may be given medicines to decrease pain and anxiety (worry) before your prostate biopsy.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You will be taken to the procedure room and moved to a bed or table. You will lie on your back, side, or stomach, with your legs apart. Anesthesia medicine may be given to help keep you comfortable during the procedure. Anesthesia medicines may include numbing gel put into your rectum or shots of numbing medicine given near your prostate. You may have spinal anesthesia to numb (lose feeling in) the area below your waist. You may also get general anesthesia to keep you asleep and free from pain during the procedure. Caregivers will work with you to decide which anesthesia medicine is best for you.
  
  
• A transrectal ultrasound may be used to guide the procedure. A small tube will be put into your rectum to show pictures of your prostate on a screen. A biopsy needle will be put in through your rectum into your prostate gland. A small sample of tissue will be removed with the needle. Your caregiver may take between 6 to 12 samples of tissue from different areas of your prostate gland. A new needle will be used to take each tissue sample. Each sample will be sent to a lab for testing.

After your procedure:

You will be able to rest until you are fully awake. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. Once caregivers see that you are not having any problems, you may be able to go home.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You are late or cannot make it to your procedure.
  
  
• You have a fever.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You are urinating very little or not at all.
  
  
• You have new or increased pain in your lower abdomen or rectum.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.