Abstract
Transrectal ultrasound was performed in 19 patients with suspected local pelvic recurrence after a radical pelvic operation: 8 had undergone radical prostatectomy and 11 radical cystoprostatectomy. Transrectal sonography verified the presence of recurrence in 18 of 19 patients (94.7%) and this was confirmed by biopsy of the visualised lesions. Analysis of the sonographic echo patterns encountered revealed that in 14 of 18 recurrent neoplasms (77.7%) the echogenic pattern was hypoechoic. In the remaining 5 patients (26.3%) the echo pattern was isoechoic. No hyperechoic lesions were noted. Based upon our findings and because of the low costs compared to other diagnostic modalities, transrectal ultrasound is an ideal technique to complete digital rectal examination in evaluating patients suspected of local pelvic recurrence after radical pelvic operation.
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