Two year experience with transrectal prostate ultrasound.

ABSTRACT

During the last two and a half years, transrectal prostate ultrasound has been used extensively at our institution. Three hundred and twenty patients have been evaluated in a double blind fashion as part of a study comparing digital rectal examination and transrectal prostatic ultrasound. Prostate cancer was detected in twenty three patients (7.2%); 13 had palpable nodules (4.1%) and 10 had non-palpable nodules (3.1%). Of the 23 patients, 19 had clinically localized (Stage B) prostate cancer. Clinical and pathologic staging correlated in 15 patients (79%). This compares favorably to clinical staging accuracy of 55% in patients prior to utilization of transrectal prostatic ultrasound.