A prostate biopsy helps determine whether abnormal prostate screening results may be related to prostate cancer or another prostate condition. At CLS Health, our urology team uses image-guided biopsy techniques to collect small tissue samples from the prostate as precisely and comfortably as possible.
Your urologist may recommend a prostate biopsy if you have an elevated PSA level, an abnormal digital rectal exam, or a prostate MRI that shows an area needing closer evaluation.
What is a Prostate Biopsy?
A prostate biopsy is a procedure that removes small samples of tissue from the prostate gland so they can be examined under a microscope. It is typically recommended when prostate screening shows a possible concern, such as an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, an abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE), or suspicious findings on prostate MRI. The goal is to determine whether cancer cells or other prostate abnormalities are present.
How is a Prostate Biopsy Performed?
At CLS Health, prostate biopsies may be performed using transrectal ultrasound guidance, also called TRUS biopsy, or MRI fusion biopsy.
During a TRUS biopsy, an ultrasound probe is gently placed into the rectum to create real-time images of the prostate. These images help the urologist guide a thin biopsy needle to collect small tissue samples from the prostate gland.
The tissue samples are sent to a pathology lab, where they are examined for cancer cells or other prostate abnormalities. Your urologist will review the results with you and explain any recommended next steps.
What Is an MRI Fusion Prostate Biopsy?
MRI fusion prostate biopsy is an advanced biopsy technique that combines prostate MRI images with live ultrasound imaging. If a prostate MRI shows a suspicious area, those MRI images can be fused with real-time ultrasound images during the biopsy. This helps the urologist more precisely target the area of concern while also collecting tissue samples needed for diagnosis.
MRI fusion prostate biopsy is becoming an important part of prostate cancer evaluation, especially for patients with abnormal MRI findings, elevated PSA levels, or previous biopsy results that require further investigation. This procedure is performed under anesthesia in a surgery center.
What to Expect from a Prostate Biopsy Procedure
Here’s a step-by-step overview of how a prostate biopsy is typically performed:
As part of prostate biopsy preparation, you may be asked to pause certain medications and take antibiotics to lower the risk of infection. Do not stop any medication unless your provider tells you to do so.
Depending on the type of biopsy, you may receive local anesthesia or anesthesia in a surgery center to help keep you comfortable.
An ultrasound probe is used to create real-time images of the prostate. For a standard TRUS biopsy, the urologist uses these images to guide a thin biopsy needle and collect small tissue samples from the prostate. For an MRI fusion biopsy, MRI images are combined with live ultrasound images to help target suspicious areas seen on MRI. Multiple tissue samples are collected and sent to a pathology lab for analysis.
The tissue samples are sent to a pathology lab, where they are examined for cancer cells or other abnormalities. Results are usually available within a week to 10 days. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to discuss the findings and any necessary next steps, ensuring you receive appropriate care based on the results.
Why Choose CLS Health for Your Prostate Biopsy
- Image-Guided Accuracy: Our urologists use ultrasound guidance and, when appropriate, MRI fusion technology to help target areas of concern and collect tissue samples for diagnosis.
- Minimally Invasive Approach: Prostate biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure designed to collect tissue samples while keeping you as comfortable as possible.
- Advanced Technology: MRI fusion biopsy allows suspicious areas seen on prostate MRI to be matched with live ultrasound images during the procedure.
- Clear Follow-Up: After the biopsy, your care team will explain your results, answer your questions, and discuss any recommended next steps, including monitoring, additional testing, or treatment if needed.
Schedule a Prostate Biopsy Consultation in Houston
If you have an elevated PSA level, abnormal prostate exam, or prostate MRI showing an area of concern, a prostate biopsy can help provide the answers needed to guide your care.
CLS Health urologists offer image-guided prostate biopsy services in the Houston area, including TRUS and MRI fusion biopsy.
Schedule an appointment today to discuss your results, your biopsy options, and the next step in protecting your prostate health.
Book with Dr. Dhir
Urology
FAQs
Most side effects are mild and temporary. After a prostate biopsy, you may notice soreness, blood in the urine, blood in the stool, blood in the semen, minor rectal bleeding, or mild urinary discomfort.
Contact your provider right away if you develop fever, chills, worsening pain, difficulty urinating, heavy bleeding, or symptoms that do not improve as expected.
A prostate biopsy should not be severely painful. Anesthesia or numbing medication is used to help keep you comfortable. Some patients feel pressure or brief discomfort during the procedure, followed by mild soreness afterward.
The biopsy itself usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Including preparation and recovery time, your total appointment may take about an hour. MRI fusion biopsy performed in a surgery center may take longer because anesthesia and recovery time are included.
Post-biopsy care includes following your doctor’s instructions, monitoring for any signs of infection or complications, and attending follow-up appointments to discuss the biopsy results and any necessary further treatment.
While a prostate biopsy involves inserting a needle into the prostate, the procedure is designed to be minimally invasive and causes only temporary and minor effects on the prostate. The risk of serious complications is low, and the procedure does not result in long-term damage to the prostate.
Approximately 25-30% of prostate biopsies result in a cancer diagnosis. This percentage can vary based on several individual factors, including PSA levels, age, family history, and other clinical findings. Understanding these factors helps in interpreting prostate cancer biopsy results and planning appropriate follow-up care and treatment.
- Aetna Select
- Open Access Selects
- Elect Choice
- Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Choice POS II
- Managed Choice
- Open Choice PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans
CLS Health does not accept:
- Aetna CVS Marketplace Plans
* Some providers may not accept this insurance, please call to confirm.
- Superior Ambetter Core (Complete, Clear, Focused, Standard Silver and Gold)
- Superior Ambetter Value (Clear Value Silver, Focused Value Silver, CMS Standard Silver & Gold Value, Everyday Value Gold)
- Superior Ambetter Virtual (Ambetter Virtual Access Silver, CMS Standard Virtual Access Basic Silver, Ambetter Virtual Access Gold)
- Superior Health Plan CHIP*
- Superior Health Plan MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug)
- Superior Health Plan Medicare
- Superior Health Plan MMP Medicaid*
- Superior Health Plan MMP Medicare
- Superior Health Plan STAR*
- Superior Health Plan STAR Kids*
- Superior Health Plan STAR+PLUS*
CLS Health participates in most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans including:
- Blue Choice PPO
- Blue Essentials
- Blue Essentials Access
- HealthSelect
- HealthSelect of Texas In Area
- Consumer Directed HealthSelect in Area
- HealthSelect of Texas Out of State
- Consumer Directed Health Select Out of State
- HealthSelect Secondary 65+
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Medicare Advantage PPO
- Medicare Advantage Value HMO
- POS
- Traditional/Par Plan
- TRS-Active Care
- TRS-Care Standard
- BCBS MyBlue Health (Marketplace)
*Some providers may not accept Community Health Choice, please call to confirm.
- MarketplacePremier
- Medicaid*CHIPCHIP PerinateSTAR
- Medicare AdvantageDual-Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)
- ChoiceCare PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- HMO Premier
- Medicare Advantage Plans
- HumanaChoice - Medicare Advantage PPO plan
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan
- Human Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage HMO & Special Needs Plan
- Military (TRICARE South Region Military Health Plan)
- POS - including Choice POS, National POS Open Access/Plus and Preferred POS Open Access.
- PPO
*Some providers may not accept United Healthcare, please call to confirm.
- Commercial, HMO, POS, EPO and PPO Plans (Charter, Choice,Core, Doctors Plan, Freedon, Heritage, Navigate, Nexus ACO, Options PPO, Passport Connect, Select)
- Indemnity
- Medicare Advantage (AARP, Care Improvement Plus, C-SNP, D-SNP, I-SNP, Erickson Advantage, ERS Medicare Advantage, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare Chronic Complete, UnitedHealthcare Connected (Medicare-Medicaid Plan), UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete, UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO, United Healthcare Medicare Complete)
- Community Plans* (CHIP, CHIP Perinate, Star, Star Kids, Star Plus, MMP)
- Wellmed (Wellmed Dual SNP Focus, Wellmed Medicare Advantage Focus)
*Some providers may not accept Wellpoint, please call to confirm.
- Medicaid (All Texas Plans Including the Below)*
- CHIP
- CHIP Perinate
- STAR
- STAR+PLUS
- STAR Kids
- Medicare Advantage
- C-SNP
- D-SNP
- I-SNP
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Medicare-Medicaid (MMP)
- Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
- STAR+PLUS MMP
*Some providers may not accept insurance, please call to confirm.
PPO Networks
- Beechstreet PPO
- Carnival Cruise Lines PPO
- Envolve Benefit Options Vision-PPO, HMO
- First Health
- Curative/First Health
- Galaxy Health Network
- HealthSmart Preferred Care
- Accel
- Healthsmart Payors Organization
- Multiplan PPO
- Tricare (Humana) PPO/Prime
Employer-Specific Plans
- Brazoria County Employees – Aetna TPA Brazoria County Employees
Workers’ Compensation Plans
- Workers’ Comp
- Auto & Workers’ Comp
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Traditional
- Medicare Advantage
- Memorial Hermann Health Solutions Commercial and Medicare
- Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO SNP
- Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
- STAR+PLUS MMP
- Alignment Health Plan
- AllyAlign Health
- American Health Plans
- Florida Complete Care
- Gold Kidney Health Plan
- Imperial Health
- Independent Health
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
- Mass Advantage
- Presbyterian Health Plan
- PriorityHealth
- Provider Partners
- SCAN
- UCare
- Vantage Health Plan
- Verda Healthcare
- Zing Health
Medicaid and CHIP Programs
- Molina Healthcare* (Marketplace, Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinate, STAR, STAR Kids, STAR+PLUS)
- Texas Children's Health Plans*
- TMHP (Traditional Medicaid) Traditional Medicaid
Specialty Plans
- VA Community Cares Network CCN
