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What are the Techniques of Diagnosing Prostate Cancer?BY: Ritu Choudhary | Category: Prostate Cancer | Submitted: 2011-02-20 19:10:54
The diagnosis of cancer of the prostate is usually suspected during an increase in the value of PSA , when an abnormality has been detected in rectal or urinary symptoms or general (fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss) are present. The time between the discovery of something abnormal and early treatment may seem long. But that time is needed to conduct reviews that will help diagnose and define the best treatment for each situation. There is no urgency to initiate treatment of prostate cancer in its early stages. The risk of worsening of prostate cancer during this period is low because prostate cancer usually develops slowly. The doctor conducts a first step in what is called an initial assessment to determine whether this is a cancer of the prostate. This assessment includes: An interview with the patient to assess its overall health and identify any medical or surgical history and family histories. It also raises questions about the patient's symptoms can guide him in his diagnosis such as a decrease in the strength of urinary stream, and frequent urination. It is important that the patient mentions all the symptoms he had spotted. These symptoms may not correspond to a prostate cancer. In most cases, prostate cancers cause no trouble unsophisticated detectable by the patient himself. Clinical examination of the patient including a rectal examination examines the prostate and detects any abnormalities. A blood test, to make the determination of a protein produced by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA abridged). Also known as serum total PSA, only biological marker included in this initial assessment. Laboratory tests include blood cell count determination which assesses the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. If necessary, a determination of creatinine is performed to evaluate kidney function. Other tests may be requested by the doctor according to individual circumstances. Biopsy of the prostate is performed when an abnormality is found on rectal examination or in case of elevated PSA value. These are samples of several small fragments of tissue of the prostate. Further biopsies may be necessary after a series of normal biopsies. The fragments collected are examined microscopically by pathologist. It is an analysis of tissue taken from the suspicious area that can confirm the presence or absence of cancer. This examination can indicate the aggressiveness of cancer cells defined by a scale called the Gleason score and characteristics of tumor tissue and the crossing of cancer cells beyond the prostate capsule. When the result of pathological examination did not show the presence of cancer, it is called negative. If the biopsy shows cancer cells, the doctor may prescribe additional tests to clarify the spread of cancer (local, nodal or metastatic). A scanner (also called computed tomography or CT), which allows a series of photographs in horizontal slices. A scanner designed to investigate whether the disease has affected the lymph nodes. Since it is carried around the pelvic area, it is called pelvic CT or pelvic CT. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) pelvic, which provides precise images of the contour of the prostate and to detect whether the cancer has spread or not beyond the prostate and to investigate whether the disease has affected lymph nodes. Bone scintigraphic for the absence or presence of metastases in bone. These imaging tests are performed only if they have an impact on the management of patient and localized tumors according to risk of relapse established a classification called D'Amico classification. Based on this classification, patients with localized tumor are considered to be low risk, intermediate risk or high. Patients at low risk, the assessment of a lymph node metastasis or not reported. However, to determine as precisely as possible the various spot treatments that may be offered, prostate and pelvic MRI is performed. MRI is not routine but may be given if the results affect management. Patients at intermediate or high risk, the staging may include a bone scan, CT or MRI. A kidney ultrasound is recommended for locally advanced tumors (T3-T4) symptomatic. The results of all of these tests allow to distinguish several forms of cancer of the prostate: localized forms, locally advanced or metastatic forms. This distinction will help the doctor and patient in selecting the most appropriate treatments. Article Source: http://www.cancer-surgery.com/ About Author / Additional Info: Comments on this article: (0 comments so far)
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