Anyone have an Ultrasound-Guided Transperineal Prostate Biopsy?

I also had the procedure at Mayo and the discomfort was minimal. I would recommend it without reservation. No sedation was needed, it as it was performed as an outpatient in the clinic with a local anesthetic. It provided accurate diagnostic information for deciding on the treatment options. And, proton therapy is an option at Mayo when appropriate.

@kingsnake, I think this might be the recent article and video you are referring to:
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Prostate biopsy technique reduces infection risk https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-new-prostate-biopsy-technique-reduces-infection-risk/

I did this so you can read the previous posts and hopefully get your questions about the procedure and insurance coverage by fellow members like @dandl48 @bodeygolfer @roger15 @mrbill @john57.

Kingsnake, will you be having the biopsy at Mayo?

Moderator: thanks for the warm welcome and funneling my question to the right forum.

I am in Colorado, and I am undecided as to whether travel to Mayo for an initial biopsy is warranted. I am trying to gauge from comments on this board as to whether Mayo could provide real advantages at this stage over a local Urology clinic. If they both do the traditional 12-core grid biopsy, then travel to Jacksonville or Phoenix might not be the best use of funds - which might go farther to be used for a second opinion on reading the biopsy results?? But I could be persuaded.

Moderator: thanks for the warm welcome and funneling my question to the right forum.

I am in Colorado, and I am undecided as to whether travel to Mayo for an initial biopsy is warranted. I am trying to gauge from comments on this board as to whether Mayo could provide real advantages at this stage over a local Urology clinic. If they both do the traditional 12-core grid biopsy, then travel to Jacksonville or Phoenix might not be the best use of funds - which might go farther to be used for a second opinion on reading the biopsy results?? But I could be persuaded.

My odyssey started here in Omaha, where I had both my MRI and 16-core Transrectal Fusion Biopsy. After my results (Gleason 4+3=7, Intermediate/Localized) on 7/11/2022, I really thought I'd go with surgery, but I thought I should evaluate radiation, too. My doctor's clinic no longer had a radiology oncologist, so I'd have to visit a third institution for that evaluation. That's when I listened to the "inner voice" and contacted Mayo Rochester. They worked miracles with my nephew and his cancer, so I thought I'd be foolish not to go (only 6 hrs for me). Kingsnake, I don't know what you have to work with in CO, but the sheer organization and professionalism at Mayo brings peace of mind. I saw a surgeon on a Monday and, thanks to a cancellation, a radiology oncologist on Wednesday. That was serendipitous, so I wouldn't hold it as standard, but it showed that Mayo does try to work with you and your situation. I won't go into detail about my road to making a choice (I don't want Colleen to have to move my comment elsewhere), so I'll say only that I start The Process for radiation on Oct 13.

Good Luck, Kingsnake. There be a wealth of information in these many comments. Take your time and don't get overwhelmed.

The topic was recently reviewed on the Mayo website. Article suggested more accurate diagnosis using targeted biopsy samples guided from key areas of the prostate with the aid of a either a Real-time MRI, or a “Fusion” process which overlies a map of the prostate to guide sampling. A side benefit was no risk of infection from colon perforation caused by biopsy needle.

My questions are:
1) Has anyone used this procedure?
2) Is it a valid choice for one’s initial biopsy?
3) Does insurance cover this procedure?

Thank you.

Moderator: thanks for the warm welcome and funneling my question to the right forum.

I am in Colorado, and I am undecided as to whether travel to Mayo for an initial biopsy is warranted. I am trying to gauge from comments on this board as to whether Mayo could provide real advantages at this stage over a local Urology clinic. If they both do the traditional 12-core grid biopsy, then travel to Jacksonville or Phoenix might not be the best use of funds - which might go farther to be used for a second opinion on reading the biopsy results?? But I could be persuaded.

@kingsnake I had 3 trans rectal biopsy's prior to going to Mayo for the MRI Assisted biopsy. The first 3 came back with no cancer found, taking only 8 samples on one and 12 on the remaining 2. This is all with my PSA continuing to increase. Once I decided to give Mayo a shot, they suggested the MRI assisted biopsy that I agreed to. They took 18 samples and did find the cancer. If your insurance would pay for it, why would you not go to Mayo since it's ranked in the top 3 hospitals in the country for cancer treatment. In your post you didn't list Mayo Rochester, is there a reason for that? Best of luck.
Dave

Hello, I can relate to your concerns. I live in Wyoming and had a traditional 12-core grid biopsy. The results were sent to a lab in Loveland, Colorado. Six samples showed Gleason scores of 6 and 7. (Two were 7. ) My doctor recommended surgery for me. I’d wanted a second opinion. I contacted the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. They requested my results from the lab. I then had a Zoom appointment and discussed my options. After talking with two different Mayo doctors, my treatments idea switched from radiation to surgery. It took a while to get my surgery done because of COVID-19 concerns at the Mayo Clinic. I had an MRI at the Mayo Clinic the day before my surgery. My surgery went well; I went home to recuperate the same day.
Good luck with your decision. I know every situation is different. Jerry

My husband had an MRI fusion transperineal biopsy at Mayo in Rochester in March of 2021.
It was a great experience, minimal discomfort, as the procedure was done under light anesthetic.
We were on commercial insurance at the time, and it paid 100%.
Later, when trying to get in a study at Johns Hopkins, his slides were reviewed by Jonathan Epstein, who is considered the top pathologist for reviewing prostate cancer slides.
He was in complete agreement with the Mayo pathologists.
You can have 100% confidence in Mayo Rochester. I cannot speak to the other sites.