About the Prostate Ultrasound
You or somebody you know may have to undergo a prostate ultrasound test for diagnosing prostate cancer. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer is usually a slowly spreading malignant growth which affects this gland. It starts in the tissue of the prostate called adenocarcinomas.
In the prostate ultrasound test, high frequency sound waves are used to capture internal images of the body. These are detailed pictures which clearly show the prostate gland and help the doctor in diagnosing how far the cancer has spread. It is a painless test and is usually over and done within a short time.
Equipment Used:
There are various equipments which are used during a prostate ultrasound. One such instrument is the ultrasound scanner. It consists of different components like a computer, a video display screen and a transducer.
The transducer is a small device similar to a microphone. It sends out high-frequency sound waves and also listens for returning sound waves in order to get the results. This device is the main component for carrying out an ultrasound test.
How It Works:
As mentioned before, a prostate ultrasound is a painless test used by doctors for clearly diagnosing prostate cancer. The ultrasound exam produces images that show the movement and shape of the body's major organs.
It is important for the bowels to be cleaned out before taking this ultrasound test. So an enema is taken 3 to 4 hours before the test. The patient will also be asked to drink fluids, as having a full bladder is helpful during the ultrasound.
How the Ultrasound Test Is Performed:
The prostate ultrasound test is performed transrectally by inserting the transducer instrument into the back passage (rectum). Images from a wide variety of angles are taken so that the docter can get thorough and accurate diagnosis of the prostate gland.
The entire prostate ultrasound procedure can be completed within half an hour. There is little to no pain involved in the whole procedure. The patient usually gets up after the examination and gets dressed, but has to wait a little while for the images to be reviewed.