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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
A prostate biopsy is a procedure to remove samples of suspicious tissue from the prostate. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland in men that produces fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
During a prostate biopsy, also called a core needle biopsy, a fine needle is used to collect a number of tissue samples from your prostate gland. A prostate biopsy is done by a urologist, a doctor who specializes in the urinary system and men's sex organs. Your urologist may recommend a prostate biopsy if results from initial tests, such as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test or digital rectal exam (DRE), suggest you may have prostate cancer.
Following a prostate biopsy, tissue samples from the prostate biopsy are examined under a microscope for cell abnormalities that are a sign of prostate cancer. If cancer is present, it is evaluated to determine how quickly it's likely to grow and spread, and to determine your best treatment options.
- How is prostate cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ProstateCancer/DetailedGuide/prostate-cancer-diagnosis. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- Ramey JR, et al. Ultrasonography and biopsy of the prostate. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202281144-2/0/1445/0.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- Causes, natural history & diagnosis of prostate cancer. UrologyHealth.org. http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=04&topic=39. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- How to read your pathology report. MyBiopsy.org. http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/pathology_report.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2010.
- Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz. Aug. 23, 2010.
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