Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)
Transrectal ultrasound uses sound waves to make an image of the prostate on a video screen. For this test, a small probe is placed in the rectum. It gives off sound waves, which enter the prostate and create echoes that are picked up by the probe. A computer turns the pattern of echoes into a black and white image of the prostate. The procedure takes only a few minutes and is done in a doctor's office or outpatient clinic. You will feel some pressure when the TRUS probe is placed in your rectum, but it is usually not painful.
TRUS is usually not recommended as a routine test by itself to detect prostate cancer because it doesn't often show early cancer. Instead, it is most commonly used during a prostate biopsy. TRUS is used to guide the biopsy needles into the right area of the prostate. It can also be used to measure the size of the prostate gland, which can help determine the PSA density and may affect which treatment options are appropiate.1
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