Gold standard: Safe and uncomplicated
Due to its safe and uncomplicated performance, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is still the gold standard for further clarification when there is evidence of prostate cancer. It is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia or short anesthesia. Under ultrasound guidance, at least 12 biopsies are taken from all areas of the prostate through the rectum, or 18-24 in the case of larger prostates. If areas suspicious of tumor are visible in the imaging, an additional targeted biopsy is taken from these areas of the prostate (MRI-guided prostate biopsy). The sites of the respective sampling are documented in order to be able to reliably assign them later for the planning of a possible treatment.
No spread of tumor cells by biopsy
As a rule, the prostate biopsy proceeds without complications. After tissue removal, small amounts of blood are often found in the urine, semen or stool, or a slight feeling of pressure in the rectum. In rare cases, pain, temperature increase, fever or chills may also occur. In these cases, the doctor should be consulted immediately, as in a few cases (less than 1 percent) there is a possibility of prostatitis. Clarification is also necessary if more severe postoperative bleeding from the rectum or urethra or circulatory problems occur. To reduce the risk of infection from the puncture site in the rectal area, the German Society of Urology recommends antibiotic prophylaxis.
As recent studies have shown, there is no spread of tumor cells in the stent canal or favoring the development of tumor metastases. Nor does the biopsy influence the growth behavior of the prostate cancer.