Posted on August - 30 - 2010
Prostate biopsy can cause urinary, erectile problems
Biopsies taken to diagnose prostate cancer commonly cause temporary erectile dysfunction and, in some cases, lingering urinary problems, according to a new study.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Urology, highlight the fact that even the tests for diagnosing prostate cancer can have side effects.
And men who are undergoing prostate biopsies — as well as those considering prostate cancer screening — should be aware of those risks, experts say.
This is especially important for men facing the prospect of multiple biopsies, since the risk of side effects appears to be related to the number of needle sticks used.
For the study, German researchers followed 198 men who had been randomly assigned to undergo one of three forms of biopsy to check for suspected prostate cancer: a standard biopsy, where a needle was used to take no more than 10 tissue samples; a 10-sample biopsy along with the use of a periprostatic nerve block to lessen any pain from the procedure; or a “saturation” biopsy, where 20 tissue samples were taken.
Saturation biopsies may be done in some cases where the doctor suspects a man has a particularly elevated risk of having cancer — such as a man who has had a negative biopsy in the past yet has persistently suspicious findings on PSA screening tests.