Sonometrics of the Prostate

Abstract

Determination of prostatic size by rectal examination is inaccurate if objective and reproducible values are desired. Sonometrics, a combination of transrectal sonography and biometrics, is a simple method to determine prostatic weight. The optomanual image analyzing system (BIT PAD-TRS 80) consists of a digitizer tablet, cursor, processing unit and keyboard (TRS 80). The photographic records or the image of the prostate on the scan can be measured with the optomanual image analysis system by tracing the circumference of the prostate. Using the computer one can calculate length, area and circumference of the sonogram. When the postoperative and sonometrically estimated weights were compared a good correlation coefficient was found. The studies on age-dependent growth of the prostate show an age-volume relationship similar to that shown in the study by Swyer. As demonstrated in patients with hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism change in prostatic volume also can be assessed in small prostates.

Effects of Gonadotropin and Testosterone Treatments on Prostate Volume and Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Male Hypogonadism.

“…In agreement with previous studies, our results show that androgen replacement therapy increases the prostate volume in male hypogonadism [11,13,17]. Conversely, in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, treatment with a GnRH agonist resulted in suppression of serum testosterone levels and decreases in prostate volume [18,19].…”

Evaluation of effect of treatment for primary lesions of stage D2 prostatic cancer by means of transrectal ultrasonotomography.

“…therapy (Watanabe et al 1974a, b and1975). The reliability of this method was confirmed by many investigators, in comparison with digital examination in which it was difficult to achieve total objective evaluation of the primary tumor (Brooman et al 1981; Bartsch et al 1982 ;Carpenter et al 1982 ;Hastak et al 1982 ;Pontes et al 1984). This characteristic ability depends on the excellent reproducibility of the prostatic image and the fact that it allows precise measurement of the prostate size.…”

Transrectal Ultrasonography in Urology

“…Principally two methods exist: the planimetric method and the 3-dimensional method. The planimetric method was described by Hastak et al This method estimates volume by obtaining serial transverse scans at 2-to 5-mm intervals from bladder base to the apex of the prostate [12][13][14], The 3-dimensional method calculates the volume by meas uring height, width and length of the prostate. The measure ments must be made at right angles to each other.…”