Power Doppler ultrasonography of the feeding arteries of the prostate gland: a novel approach to the diagnosis of prostate cancer?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the role of spectral Doppler ultrasonographic parameters of the feeding arteries of the prostate for the detection of prostate cancer.


METHODS
A total of 55 patients referred for prostate biopsy with a mean age of 66.4 years (range, 46-82 years) were included. In each patient, Doppler indices from bilateral capsular and urethral arteries were obtained. The indices were compared with regard to malignant (group A) and benign (group B) subgroups of histopathologic outcomes of transrectal ultrasonographically guided prostate biopsy for each side (n = 19 and n = 91 for groups A and B, respectively) and to assess whether the indices were significantly altered on the side with cancer compared with the contralateral side.


RESULTS
The mean pulsatility index value for the capsular artery of group A (1.49 +/- 0.57) was significantly lower than that of group B (1.71 +/- 0.52; P = .048). The mean resistive index and systolic/diastolic ratio for the capsular artery of group A (0.78 +/- 0.10 and 5.40 +/- 2.74, respectively) were lower than those of group B (0.82 +/- 0.08 and 7.40 +/- 4.91) despite being statistically insignificant (P = .075 and .119, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Spectral waveform measurements by power Doppler transrectal ultrasonography may be useful in differentiating prostate cancer from benign hypertrophy. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential of spectral Doppler indices of the capsular and urethral arteries.
Turgut
Ahmet Tuncay
AT
Department of Radiology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ahmettuncayturgut@yahoo.com
Olçücüoglu
Esin
E
Koşar
Pinar
P
Geyik
Pinar Ozdemir
PO
Koşar
Ugur
U
Dogra
Vikram
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014521:Urethra / Q000098:blood supply; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen