title: Accuracy of prostate volume measurements using transrectal multiplanar three-dimensional sonography.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in comparison with conventional bidimensional (2D) sonography in prostatic calculations. The study was performed using a Kretztechnik Voluson 530D machine with a 7.5 MHz endocavitary transducer. From March 1998 to March 2000, we examined 80 patients (63-74 years, mean 68 years). There were 59 patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and 21 with prostate cancer awaiting a radical prostatectomy. The mean absolute error in 3D ultrasound measurement was +/-0.2-3 mL. (range of error was 6.5%). Volume measurement using 2D ultrasound methods was much less accurate than 3D ultrasound methods: +/-0.4-5 mL. (range of error was 35%). Both 2D and 3D measurements show that the margin of error depends on the frequent presence of a third prostatic lobe, on the morphology, and on the size of the prostatic gland. The precise estimation of prostate volumes may provide information on the real effectiveness of some therapies that act on the reduction in volume of benign alteration, such as in prostatic hypertrophy, and may eliminate the current limits of 2D sonography with a significant clinical contribution for virtually no extra cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. gianluca.giubilei@libero.it
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giubilei
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ponchietti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biscioni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fanfani
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciatto
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DI Loro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gavazzi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mondaini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies