How to diagnose prostate cancer? Three tests are required if you suspect prostate cancer

How to effectively diagnose prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the male urogenital system, which has a great impact on the patient's health and life. For the treatment of prostate cancer, early detection and early treatment are very important. So, how to detect and diagnose prostate cancer?

Patients suspected of prostate cancer need to undergo the following three tests:

The first is a digital prostate examination or a digital rectal examination. Since the prostate is close to the rectum, a digital rectal examination can very intuitively check whether the prostate has nodules, size, and texture. This is a very important examination.

The second is for people over 50 years old or over 45 years old with a family history of prostate cancer to undergo regular pSA prostate-specific antigen testing.

The third patient needs to undergo an MRI to assist the doctor in making a judgment. It is important to remind everyone that MRI cannot diagnose prostate cancer. It can only assist in staging prostate tumors. Then prostate puncture is the only way to confirm prostate cancer. Whether it is a prostate cancer patient who is receiving endocrine therapy or surgery, a puncture is required for diagnosis.

Although MRI cannot confirm prostate cancer, imaging examination is of great significance for prostate cancer. Next, let's take a brief look at the imaging examination methods for prostate cancer.

Imaging tests for prostate cancer

1. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) The typical sign of prostate cancer on TRUS is a hypoechoic nodule in the peripheral zone, and ultrasound can be used to preliminarily determine the size of the tumor (the prostate volume is the product of the three diameters of the prostate divided by 2, and the tumor volume is the product of the three diameters of the tumor divided by 2). However, the discovery of a hypoechoic lesion in the prostate does not necessarily mean prostate cancer. It may also be a normal prostate, a hyperplastic nodule caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, pIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), acute or chronic prostatitis, prostate infarction, etc. In addition, sometimes prostate tumors appear isoechoic and cannot be found on ultrasound. At present, the main function of TRUS is to guide systematic puncture biopsy of the prostate.

2. Systematic prostate biopsy is the most reliable test for diagnosing prostate cancer. Therefore, systematic prostate biopsy under the guidance of transrectal B-ultrasound is recommended.

3. Computed tomography (CT) examination: CT is a tomographic scan that can obtain information on each cross-section of human tissue. Its role in determining prostate cancer itself is very limited, but it can determine the invasion of adjacent tissues and organs of the tumor and metastatic lymph node enlargement in the pelvis. Therefore, the purpose of CT examination for prostate cancer patients is mainly to assist clinical physicians in the clinical staging of the tumor.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that if you feel unwell or suspect diseases such as prostate cancer, you must seek medical attention in time.