title: Three-dimensional ultrasound guidance for percutaneous drainage of prostatic abscesses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of three-dimensional ultrasound-guided transperineal puncture and drainage of prostatic abscesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1985 and 2003, a prostatic abscess was diagnosed in 22 patients. One of the therapeutic modalities used to drain the abscesses was transperineal puncture under three-dimensional ultrasound guidance. The postoperative results were compared with the outcomes of other modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average patient age was 52 years. Predisposing factors were present in 12 patients. Transperineal puncture was performed in 7 patients under general anesthesia. In addition to antibiotic therapy, a nephrostomy tube was left in place in all cases for a mean period of 3 days to drain the abscess. All patients were treated effectively without additional therapy or complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional ultrasound-guided transperineal puncture is a minimally invasive and effective technique for the treatment of prostatic abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varkarakis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sebe
authors.forename: Germar-Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pinggera
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strasser
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography