TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND OF THE PROSTATE BED AFTER COLLAGEN INJECTION

Objective: Transurethral injection of collagen (TCI) may be used to tr eat urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. The transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) findings after TCI are descr ibed in this report. Materials and Methods: TRUS exams of four postpro statectomy patients who had undergone TCI were reviewed. Findings were correlated with pathologic specimens obtained at TRUS-guided core bio psy. These histologic specimens were compared with others from postpro statectomy patients who had not undergone TCI. Results: Well defined b ladder apex masses of uniform echogenicity, hypoechoic to adjacent fat and muscle, were identified sonographically in all TCI patients. Mass es from which positive biopsies were obtained were similar in appearan ce to those with no malignancy. Hypocellular fibrous tissue and foci o f acellular loose connective tissue were identified in the biopsies of those patients who had undergone TCI. No acellular areas were identif ied in specimens from patients who had not had TCI. Conclusion: Sequel ae of TCI should be included in the differential diagnosis of perianas tomotic masses in postprostatectomy patients. However, the need for bi opsy is not obviated as residual or recurrent prostate carcinoma may c oexist.