[Image-guided punch biopsy of the prostate]

The diagnnosis of prostate cancer is still being made on the basis of biopsy samples taken from the prostate. After the clinical introduction of transrectal sonography almost 30 years ago, this technique has undergone some innovations and changes in its methods of performance. Improvements in the transponder and ultrasound generator are not yet at an end. In the mean time supplementary methods to the B-mode imaging are available that enable improvements in the diagnosis. Apart from ultrasound-based procedure such as C-TRUS/ANNA, contrast medium-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and sonoelastography, MRI-based methods are now available to further improve the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It remains to be seen which method will establish itself in the future with the highest degree of diagnostic certainty and an appropriate cost-use relationship. From the urologist's point, however, diagnosis of and therapy for prostate cancer must remain in the domaine of urology.