Prostate Ultrasound is also called transrectal ultrasound and is used to evaluate the health of the male prostate gland and the tissue adjacent to it. The prostate gland is accessed via an ultrasound probe inserted in the rectum because it is located just ahead the rectum and can easily be scanned in this way.
A prostate sonography may be used to identify and measure abnormalities including an enlarged prostate and any lumps or growths. It can also be used to investigate possible causes of infertility, difficulty urinating, elevated blood screening results, or anomalies discovered during routine exams and screenings.
Limitations of Prostate Ultrasound
Prostate ultrasound is not well suited to men whose rectum has been surgically removed, but a sonographer may decide instead to do an external ultrasound on the patient’s perineal area. This type of scan may not be as effective, however, and a pelvic MRI may be ordered instead.
What Next?
- Digg This Post
- Subscribe to Our RSS Feed
- G+ This Post
- Twitter This Post