Can B-ultrasound detect prostate cancer?

B-ultrasound can generally detect prostate cancer, but the accuracy is not as high as MRI and needle biopsy. B-ultrasound examination for prostate cancer mainly includes transrectal ultrasonography, abdominal ultrasonography and other methods.

1. Transrectal Ultrasound Examination

Transrectal ultrasound examination involves placing an ultrasound probe into the rectum for examination. This method can directly observe the condition of the prostate and is helpful in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Transrectal ultrasound can detect hypoechoic nodules in the prostate, which may be signs of prostate cancer. This method can also measure prostate volume, determine whether the capsule is complete, and whether there is local invasion. However, it is difficult to diagnose prostate cancer by transrectal ultrasound alone, which usually requires a combination of PSA examination and needle biopsy.

2. Abdominal ultrasound examination

Abdominal ultrasound is used to observe the prostate through the abdominal wall. This method is simple and non-invasive, and is suitable as a preliminary screening. However, the diagnostic value for early-stage prostate cancer is relatively limited. It mainly focuses on observing whether the overall shape of the prostate is abnormal. When the tumor develops to a certain size, it may only be discovered on abdominal ultrasound, so it is not suitable as the main basis for diagnosing prostate cancer. Abdominal ultrasound is more suitable for assessing prostate enlargement.

3. Color Doppler Ultrasound Examination

Color ultrasound adds a blood flow signal detection function to ordinary B-ultrasound, which can display the blood flow of prostate tissue. Prostate cancer is usually accompanied by abnormal blood flow signals, and color ultrasound can observe whether there is abnormally rich blood supply around the tumor. This type of examination can provide more diagnostic information, but it still cannot replace the advantages of MRI. Color ultrasound examination results need to be comprehensively judged based on PSA levels and clinical symptoms.

4. Guided needle biopsy

An important role of B-ultrasound in the diagnosis of prostate cancer is to locate suspicious lesions and guide needle biopsy. Usually, under the guidance of ultrasound, the suspicious area can be precisely punctured to obtain tissue samples, and then the diagnosis can be confirmed through pathological examination. This ultrasound-guided puncture method improves the accuracy of biopsy and reduces the probability of missed diagnosis. However, very small cancer lesions may still be missed.

5. Follow-up monitoring

B-ultrasound examination is also valuable in the follow-up of prostate cancer patients after treatment. After surgery, you can regularly review the prostate area through B-ultrasound to observe whether there are signs of recurrence or metastasis. This examination method is relatively simple and convenient, and can be used as one of the routine follow-up methods. However, the detection rate of small recurrent lesions is still limited, and other examination methods such as MRI need to be combined when necessary.

Although B-ultrasound can help detect prostate cancer, it cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis. For patients suspected of prostate cancer, it is recommended to undergo further PSA testing, MRI examination or needle biopsy as needed after the B-ultrasound examination. Middle-aged and elderly men should undergo regular prostate-related examinations, especially if they have symptoms such as difficulty urinating and hematuria, they should seek medical treatment promptly. Prostate cancer is more effective when detected early. You should pay attention to changes in urination every day, maintain good living habits, and avoid sitting for long periods of time.