Transitional cell carcinoma involving the distal ureter: assessment with transrectal and color Doppler ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the feasibility of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) with transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) involving the distal ureter.


METHODS
Our study group consisted of 12 patients having TCC involving the distal ureter who had undergone TAUS and TRUS. Verification of the TCC involving the distal ureter was made by surgery (n = 9) or urine cytologic examination combined with the imaging findings (n = 3). The gray scale images of TAUS and TRUS were retrospectively evaluated to determine whether the ureteral mass was visualized. The CDUS findings were compared with the T stage, the histopathologic grade, and the mean microvessel density of histopathologically proved distal ureteral TCCs (n = 8).


RESULTS
Transabdominal ultrasonography showed hypoechoic ureteral dilatation in 6 patients, a ureteral mass in 5, and anechoic ureteral dilatation in 1. Transrectal ultrasonography showed a ureteral mass in all 12 patients. Color Doppler ultrasonography could show blood flow in the ureteral mass in all patients. The tumor vascularity on CDUS showed no statistically significant relationship with the T stage, the histopathologic grade, and the mean microvessel density.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with TAUS, TRUS seems to improve the ability to detect TCC involving the distal ureter. In conjunction with TRUS, CDUS shows blood flow in the ureteral mass, and this may be helpful for the diagnosis of TCC involving the distal ureter.
Kim
Hyoung Jung
HJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-702, Korea.
Lim
Joo Won
JW
Lee
Dong Ho
DH
Ko
Young Tae
YT
Oh
Joo Hyeong
JH
Kim
Youn Wha
YW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology