What is an enlarged prostate?
An enlarged prostate is when the prostate gland grows bigger than it should. The prostate gland is normally small and sits beneath the bladder. It produces a fluid that helps protect and nourish the sperm. When the prostate gland becomes enlarged, it can press against the urethra, a tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. This can cause problems with urination.
Understanding your options
One method of interventional radiology used to help with an enlarged prostate is prostatic artery embolization (PAE). During this procedure, an interventional radiologist uses special imaging techniques to guide a catheter, a thin tube, through the blood vessels to the arteries that supply blood to the prostate gland. Once in the right place, small particles are injected through the catheter and into the arteries to block the blood flow. By blocking the blood flow to the prostate, the gland’s size can shrink. This can relieve the pressure on the urethra and improve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as difficulty in starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow and frequent trips to the bathroom.
Our goal as your care team
Interventional radiology procedures like PAE are often less invasive than traditional surgical treatments, which may require larger incisions or the removal of the entire prostate. PAE offers a potential alternative to surgery to reduce symptoms and improve a person’s quality of life. It’s important to remember that the suitability of interventional radiology procedures, such as PAE, depends on an individual’s specific condition and overall health. A healthcare professional, together with an interventional radiologist, can evaluate a person’s symptoms, medical history and imaging results to determine if this procedure is the right option for them.
