title: [Digital tridimensional ultrasonography in urology].
abstract: Three dimensional ultrasound has gained a firm foothold in the urological field in the last ten years, although it has up to now been used more with scientific and research aims than for clinical and diagnostic purposes. 3D devices can acquire a huge number of images in a very short time (about 4 seconds); the monitor displays the 3 views, of the sagittal, transverse and coronal planes, simultaneously. 3D US can also enable Doppler studies of the arteries and veins and the dedicated software can apply image subtraction techniques, displaying the entire vascular tract cleared of the superimposed images of the other organic systems acquired at the same time. In urology, 3D US devices are most often employed in diseases of the prostate, as the clear view of transition zone on the coronal plane makes it possible to carry out precise guided biopsies, resulting in a proven improvement in early diagnosis of carcinoma in this zone. 3D US can overcome the difficulties left open by conventional TRUS for local staging of cancer. The possibility of following the whole course of the ejaculatory ducts makes it possible to identify any invasion, the first step towards involvement of the seminal vesicles and a negative prognostic factor. The method has also been used in the follow-up of kidney transplant patients. 3D US provides good imaging of the arterial and venous anastomoses and of the course of the vessels down to the smallest ramifications and thus enables more precise assessment of the resistance index, an essential parameter for evaluating rejection.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Urologia, Università di Bari.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
vernacular_title: Ecografia tridimensionale digitale in urologia.