In the last years transrectal ultrasound has become a very important diagnostic tool of either benign or neoplastic prostatic disease. We can easily evaluate gland morphology and prostatic size by transrectal ultrasound. Intraoperatively, we can verify the complete removal of the adenoma in real time. Ultrasound definition of histopathological characteristics of benign prostatic hypertrophy gives us new prognostic and therapeutic information. In the near future, if alternative non-surgical therapies prove their effectiveness in some histological aspects ultrasound will enable us to choose the most correct treatment modality.
FranksL.M.: Benign nodular hyperplasia of the prostate. Ann R. Coll. Surg., 14: 92, 1954.
2.
GreenbergM.NeimanH.L.BrandtT.D.FalkowskyW.CarterM.: Ultrasound of the prostate. Radiology, 141: 757, 1981.
3.
HenningC.WilsonS.R.: Suprapubic sonographic detection of prostate cacinoma. J. Clin. Ultrasound, 13: 101, 1985.
4.
LeeF.Torp-PedersenS.T.SidersD.B.LittrupP.J.McLearyR.D.: Transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis and staging of prostatic carcinoma. Radiology170: 609, 1989.
5.
LeeF.Torp-PedersenS.T.LittrupP.J.: Hypoechoic lesions of the prostate: clinical relevance of tumor size, digital rectal examination, and prostate-specific antigen. Radiology, 170: 29, 1989.
