Transrectale echografie van de prostaat en de waarde ervan bij opsporen van prostaatcarcinoom

- In order to assess the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma we investigated 130 men, above the age of 50, with both ultrasound and rectal examination in a prospective study.

Both investigations were performed independently from each other. When either ultrasonography or rectal examination indicated the presence of malignancy a transrectal prostatic biopsy was performed. Biopsies were taken in 72 (55) patients. In 33 (46) of these a carcinoma was diagnosed after histologic examination. Additional histological diagnostic data were obtained on 22 patients on whom a transurethral prostatic resection or open prostatectomy was performed. In 70 ultrasonography and rectal examination gave identical results with respect to diagnosis of carcinoma. Ten out of 33 carcinomas were detected by either ultrasound alone (n = 6) or rectal examination alone (n = 4).

The advantages of ultrasound investigation include detection of non-palpable tumors, more correct staging and improved technique of ultrasound guided biopsy.