title: Is preoperative transrectal ultrasonography of value in localised prostatic carcinoma? A blind comparative study between preoperative transrectal ultrasonography and the histopathological radical prostatectomy specimen.
abstract: Digital rectal examination (DRE) for staging is subjective and unreliable. Understaging has been reported in 25-72% and clinical overstaging of T3 tumors varies from 24-50%. In the present study of 15 patients, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) staging was compared, in a blind comparative fashion, with pathological staging of the surgical specimen. Multifocal lesions were present in 8/15 patients (53%). A distinction was made between capsular involvement and 'clear' capsular penetration. TRUS was more sensitive in predicting capsular involvement than DRE (83% vs 17%), but the specificity was low (67% vs 100%). If capsular perforation was considered, the sensitivity and specificity of TRUS are 43% and 91%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for seminal vesicle tumor involvement by TRUS was 63% and 86%. Using TRUS the overall staging was improved by 33% compared with DRE and therefore TRUS is considered to be a valuable acquisition in localising and staging prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Vijverberg
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giessen
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Dabhoiwala
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Reijke
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van den Tweel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014463:Ultrasonography