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The prostate gland, or simply prostate, is a walnut-sized gland in men, which is located in front of the rectum just below the bladder. It acts to produce fluid that becomes a part of the semen. The prostate surrounds the first part of the urethra—the tube through which urine passes out of the body.

Prostate problems may include prostatitis, prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. These prostate problems may have similar symptoms. This is the reason why thorough testing is needed for accurate diagnosis and to rule out other health problems.

Tests for Prostate Problems

There are several tests that your doctor can perform or recommend, which include DRE, PSA Test, urinalysis, transrectal ultrasound, and prostate biopsy.

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

In this exam, the doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger in the rectum and feels the part of the prostate that lies next to it. The doctor can check for any lumps, irregularities, soft spots, or hard spots. If infection is suspected, the doctor might massage the prostate during DRE to obtain fluid for examination with a microscope.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

PSA blood testing may be recommended by the doctor, which may help rule out prostate cancer. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate, which is often higher in men who have prostate cancer. However, high PSA levels in the blood does not necessarily mean that a person has prostate cancer.

Urinalysis

In this test, the person is asked by the doctor or health care provider to provide a urine sample. The urine sample is tested with a dipstick or examined with a microscope.

Transrectal Ultrasound

The doctor may recommend a transrectal ultrasound if he or she suspects prostate cancer. In transrectal ultrasound, a probe slightly larger than a pen is inserted into the rectum. The probe directs high-frequency sound waves at the prostate, and the echo patterns produce an image of the gland on a television monitor. The image shows how big the prostate is. Also, it can show any irregularities in the prostate. This imaging test, however, cannot clearly identify tumors.

Prostate Biopsy

A biopsy of the prostate may be recommended by the doctor to confirm diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this procedure, the doctor can use the probe and the ultrasound images to guide a biopsy needle to the suspected tumor. Samples of prostate tissues are collected for examination with a microscope.

References:

The National Institute on Aging (NIA). Age Page: Prostate Problems. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Public Health Service), National Institutes of Health ((NIH). March 2008, Page last updated Aug 06, 2009

National Cancer Institute (NCI). What You Need To Know About™ Prostate Cancer. National Institutes of Health (NIH). November 20, 2008

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).Medical Tests for Prostate Problems. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIH Publication No. 07–5105, October 2006

Tortora, G. and Grabowski, S.: PRINCIPLES OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 10th ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2003.

Image Credit: NIDDK Image Library

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Page Last Revised: November 14, 2009