Transabdominal real-time sonographic sector-scanning of bladder, seminal vesicles and prostate: technique and normal anatomy.

There is a wide application of diagnostic ultrasound in urology. Hitherto the transrectal and transurethral approach for evaluation of the pelvic organs has been used much more often. However, since the development of high resolution real-time sector-scanners, the transabdominal suprapubic approach through the full bladder has become more promising. Using this technique which, as a screening procedure, is most acceptable for the patient, detailed normal anatomy can be seen such as the ureteric orifices, the base plate, the proximal part of the urethra, the seminal vesicles and the ampullae, the ejaculatory ducts and the zonal anatomy of the prostate. In this report, the sonographic appearance of these various structures is correlated with anatomical data and the advantages of the transabdominal approach are discussed.

Pancreatic lipomatosis in the Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Identification by sonography and CT-scan.

The typical pathological finding in the pancreas of patients with the Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is fatty infiltration. In this report it is emphasized that this lipomatosis can be demonstrated by non-invasive techniques, using abdominal ultrasound and CT-scan.

Puncture of thoracic lesions under sonographic guidance.

Thirty-six punctures of thoracic lesions have been performed with a compound B-scanner or a real-time linear-array scanner for guidance. Twenty-three fluid collections were punctured and aspiration biopsies were performed on 13 echogenic lesions. All the punctures were successful at the first attempt. No complications occurred. The results confirm the usefulness of sonography for guiding punctures of thoracic fluid effusions and solid masses. Usually a static B-scanner is sufficient, but when masses are small or surrounded by vital structures puncture may be controlled by a real-time scanner.