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Hello, I’m Dr. Geoffrey Rubin, a radiologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. I’d like to talk with you about ultrasound imaging of the prostate gland or transrectal ultrasound.
Prostate ultrasound uses sound waves to produce pictures of your prostate gland. It’s primarily used to help diagnose symptoms such as difficulty urinating, an elevated blood test result, or to investigate a nodule found during a rectal exam. It’s also used to detect disorders and abnormal growths within the prostate and determine whether the gland is enlarged.
If you’re scheduled for a prostate ultrasound, there are several things you can do to prepare.
First, wear loose, comfortable clothing and leave any jewelry at home. You may be asked to remove your trousers and wear a gown. Your doctor may instruct you to refrain from taking certain medications before the exam and to use an enema to clean out your bowel.
During the procedure, you will lie on your side with your knees bent. The sonographer – a specialist in using ultrasound – will place a lubricated imaging probe or transducer into your rectum to position it as close to the prostate gland as possible.
Prostate ultrasound does not involve needles or injections, unless your doctor decides to perform a biopsy of your prostate gland. While it may be temporarily uncomfortable, an ultrasound exam is almost never painful.
Ultrasound is also extremely safe, and does not use radiation. It provides a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images. And, ultrasound has no harmful effects.
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Thank you for your time!
