A prospective study of urologist-performed sonographic evaluation of the urinary tract in patients with prostatism.
In this study 171 consecutive patients hospitalized for prostatectomy were prospectively evaluated by urologist-performed transabdominal ultrasound. The urologist-sonographers were blinded to the results of an excretory urogram (IVP) performed and interpreted by radiologists. All significant upper tract pathology (4 renal cell carcinomas and 1 transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis) identified by an IVP also was detected by ultrasonography. Of 5 clinically silent stones seen on an IVP 4 were identified by sonography. There were 13 patients (7.6%) with severe contrast medium allergies or renal failure who were readily evaluated with ultrasonography. Urologist-performed sonography can safely replace an IVP for routine evaluation of the urinary tract before prostatectomy. Moreover, sonography provided significant additional data on prostate size and post-void residual. However, the cost-effectiveness of upper tract imaging in patients before prostatectomy may be questioned.
Reisman
E M
EM
Division of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Kennedy
T J
TJ
Roehrborn
C G
CG
McConnell
J D
JD
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014572:Urology