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In modern medicine, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate is increasingly being used to clearly visualize and diagnose any disease in the pelvic area. The doctor prescribing a transrectal ultrasound or TRUS of the prostate gland seeks to assess the symmetry, size, general condition, structure of this organ and the bladder, pelvic veins and other nearby organs.
In this diagnosis, specialists evaluate the degree of clarity and accuracy of the contours, since symmetry in this case is no less important than the components of the plasma during blood sampling. TRUS is prescribed only by a doctor, according to the indications that he considers important for identifying serious pathological problems in the male body, so this examination cannot be done at the request of the patient.
Symptoms and diseases for which TRUS is used
Transrectal ultrasound is one of the most accurate means to identify or treat severe diseases associated with male sexual health. It is with the help of such an ultrasound that doctors are able to confirm or refute the suspicion of a man’s infertility, which is the most common reason for which patients come to see such specialists. At the same time, experts suggest that only a part of really sick patients reach the doctor’s office, since the majority of men are embarrassed to seek help in such delicate cases or believe that they can turn a blind eye to this problem, which is a big mistake. Also, the basis for TRUS is chronic or acute bacterial prostatitis, all kinds of cysts, hyperplasia, calculi, prostate adenoma. Any neoplasms in the prostate gland are the reason why the specialist will refer his patient for transrectal ultrasound, as well as various pathological processes in the bladder, erectile dysfunction or varicose veins in the pelvic area, all kinds of vascular pathologies.
Among the main contraindications for transrectal examination are hemorrhoids, surgical interventions in the rectum or anus, resection of the rectum or its fissures. However, in cases of vital pathologies, TRUS can also be performed in the presence of such contraindications, while before the diagnosis, the patient is specially prepared for the procedure. In addition to the above limitations, the study has no obstacles, since no type of harmful radiation is used in diagnostics.
The main symptoms in patients, in which it is necessary to consult a specialist and, possibly, conduct a TRUS, are:
- failures in erectile function;
- the presence of various kinds of seals deployed in the rectum;
- frequent and painful urination;
- soreness of the perineum and lower abdomen, which may indicate either prostatitis or problems in the bladder;
- patient infertility.
The essence of the proposed study
The transrectal ultrasound method is based on the same principle as the classical ultrasound – an intra-intestinal probe with ultrasonic waves allows you to create echo waves of various lengths, which indicates all kinds of pathologies in the body. Based on the calculated difference between the reflection length and the length of the ultrasonic wave itself, one can draw a conclusion about the shape, structure or density of the human organ in question. The received data are immediately reflected on the monitor screen of a computer connected to the ultrasound machine, which allows real-time evaluation of all emerging signals.
Also, transrectal ultrasound allows you to perform a biopsy, that is, taking the affected areas of tissues of various organs for analysis, if such a need arises during the procedure. At the same time, a needle is inserted into the prostate gland, with the help of which microscopic samples of the necessary biomaterial are removed. According to doctors, it is impossible to damage organs during transrectal ultrasound, therefore, in this regard, the procedure is absolutely safe.
Preparation for TRUS
Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate gland is a fairly simple diagnosis in its essence, which, if properly prepared for it, will not cause almost any pain to the patient.
For preparation, a couple of days before the proposed procedure, you should start eating in a certain way in order to establish intestinal motility. So, 3 days before the TRUS, you need to exclude from the diet foods that contribute to the provocation of increased gas formation – yeast baked goods, sweets, cabbage, raw fruits, vegetables, pasta, black bread, soda, alcohol. It is unacceptable to take medicines that contribute to blood thinning, for example, aspirin, and others about which the doctor must warn the patient. It is better to conduct TRUS in the morning, on an empty stomach. On the eve of the procedure itself (12 hours before), you can’t eat anything, only a small amount of non-carbonated water is allowed, and immediately before the transrectal ultrasound, the patient should drink about a liter of water to fill the bladder to improve the visualization of the resulting image.
The day before the procedure, doctors recommend using a cleansing enema to completely eliminate all contents from the intestines. Also, some men may need psychological help on the eve of the study in order to relieve fear and tension, which greatly affect the occurrence of pain during the study. If it is not possible to calm the patient, he is prescribed sedatives.
Conducting research
The whole diagnostic process takes about half an hour. The man undresses, lies on his left side, bends his knees and pulls them to his chest, taking the so-called fetal position. This position most clearly helps to visualize the prostate gland during ultrasound.
The patient’s breathing should be even, the body relaxed, and any manifestations of tension should be excluded in order to prevent the occurrence of painful feelings. The sensor of the device is covered with a condom, lubricated with a special gel and inserted into the rectum for 6 centimeters. The specialist gets the opportunity to examine the prostate gland, and after that – the seminal vesicles. The transducer is then removed, the patient empties the bladder, and the examination is performed again to verify the amount of residual urine.
After the examination, the specialist deciphers the images obtained during the examination for some time. With their help, he evaluates the structure and size of the prostate gland and determines whether there are lesions in the organ. If they are present, the shape, number and size of such areas are studied, if necessary, a biopsy is taken.
All measured values are recorded on the images by equipment that signs them to guide the doctor in their adequacy. If we combine the results of TRUS with the results of other studies in this area, doctors have the opportunity to assess the functionality of the vessels of the prostate gland, decipher the state of the parenchyma, analyze the state of the capsules, and the characteristics of the neoplasms that have arisen. At the same time, an appropriate treatment tactic is developed, which can be adjusted as a result of repeated TRUS conducted in order to consider the problem in dynamics.
The patient may require the results of the ultrasound to be handed over to him in order to be able to consult with specialists from other clinics about the chosen treatment method. At the same time, the interpretation of the ultrasound results is performed according to the standards accepted in the international community, so it can be provided to any specialist of a foreign hospital.