TRANSURETHRAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF BLADDER-CARCINOMA - ITS VALUE AND LIMITATION

Purpose: We assess the value and limitation of transurethral ultrasono graphy in the diagnostic evaluation of bladder carcinoma. Materials an d Methods: A total of 115 patients underwent the procedure, either at the same setting as transurethral resection (76) or 2 weeks before rad ical cystectomy (39). The results were compared with the pathological findings of transurethral and cystectomy specimens. Results: The corre lation between transurethral ultrasonography and pathological staging was 100% in tumors without muscle invasion (stages Ta and T1), 95.7% a nd 96.8% in muscle invasive tumors (stages T2 and T3a, respectively), and 70% in tumors with extravesical spread. Conclusions: Transurethral ultrasonography is most valuable in determining the stage of tumor co nfined to the bladder wall. Also, it is of value in detecting tumors i n a diverticulum, and monitoring the distensibility of the bladder wal l and transurethral resection of disease. The main limitations are the inabilities to discriminate between stages Ta and T1 tumors, and to d etect involvement of the pelvic lymph nodes.