Duration | Prostate biopsy

Duration

In most cases, a prostate biopsy is performed on an outpatient basis in a hospital or urological practice. It is a routine procedure that takes about 15 minutes, depending on the experience of the doctor. After the procedure, a short observation period is scheduled before the patient can go home.

Results

The tissue removed during the biopsy is examined microscopically by a pathologist. The pathologist is specialized in detecting and classifying pathological changes. First, the original tissue is identified.

If a malignant change is present, it is usually degenerated glandular tissue of the prostate. This is known as adenocarcinoma. The appearance of the degenerated tissue is assessed in terms of its abnormality in comparison to healthy tissue, which serves to assess the degree of severity.

The findings range from well defined, less degenerated tissue to glandular tissue, which is no longer morphologically recognizable as such and partly consists of dead cells. This assessment by the pathologist, together with the extent of the cancer in the body, results in a stage classification of the disease, which then results in an appropriate therapy. The time it takes for the biopsy results to be available depends on various factors.

If the procedure is performed in a specialized center, which itself has a laboratory where the microscopic analysis can be performed, the result can be available after two to three days. If the sample must first be sent to an external laboratory, this can lead to a delay in the delivery of results. It is also possible that an unclear finding or a very rare type of tumor is present, which requires assessment by a second, more specialized institution. This then also results in a longer period of time until the final diagnosis is made.

Side effects and risks – How dangerous is a prostate biopsy?

Possible side effects of a prostate biopsy may include pain, bleeding, infection or, in rare cases, the spread of tumor cells. Pain during the procedure is prevented by using a local anesthetic. However, the manipulation may cause a feeling of pressure and slight pain after the procedure.

Since the prostate is accessed via the rectum or perineum, intestinal bacteria can enter the prostate or enter the bloodstream via blood vessel injury. To prevent infection, an antibiotic is administered prophylactically before the procedure. If there is a tumor in the prostate, there is a theoretical risk that tumor cells will enter the bloodstream through the injury of blood vessels and that tumor cells can be carried away in this way.

However, this assumption could not be scientifically proven and is not a contraindication for a biopsy. The prostate biopsy is a well-established and low-risk procedure. The prostate lies around the urethra and secretes its glandular secretions, which are part of the composition of the sperm, into it.

If tissue is removed from the prostate, this can lead to injury to blood vessels.The blood that leaks out can be released along with the secretion produced by the prostate, which can result in the appearance of blood in the semen. The blood enters the urethra via the above-mentioned route. The urethra itself is not injured during the procedure, but the blood can be deposited in the urethra and be flushed out during urination. This is not a complication and should only be clarified by a physician if it takes a long time and if there is a very strong discharge of blood.