ACCURACY OF PROSTATE VOLUME MEASUREMENTS IN-VITRO USING 3-DIMENSIONALULTRASOUND

Rationale and Objectives. We assessed the ability of a three-dimension al (3D) ultrasound imaging system to measure accurately prostate volum e. Methods. Multiple two-dimensional ultrasound images of cadaver pros tates scanned in a water bath were reconstructed into three-dimensiona l (3D) images. The volumes of the prostates were calculated from these 3D images and compared with the actual volumes. Multiple 3D ultrasoun d volume readings were evaluated for precision. Results. The slope of the best-fit line correlating 3D ultrasound estimated volume and true volume was 1.006 +/- 0.007. The average error was 0.36 +/- 1.17 cm(3); the coefficient of determination (r(2)), which is tile measure of the straight-line relationship, was .9997; and the standard error was 1.1 5 cm(3). Conclusion. Three-dimensional ultrasound images accurately re flect true prostate volumes measured in vitro.