3-DIMENSIONAL TRANSRECTAL SONOGRAPHY OF THE BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS

Three-dimensional transrectal sonography is a new imaging technique ca pable of providing sonographic sections in three planes simultaneously , which to date has not been possible by conventional techniques. Apar t from the additional information obtained by the third, i.e. coronal, plane, this new technique permits precise three-dimensional analyses of relevant anatomical structures. In a total of 57 patients the bulbo -urethral glands were studied by means of three-dimensional transrecta l sonography. In order to identify the visualised structures anatomica lly and topographically, the images obtained were compared with serial anatomical sections of several male pelves. the results show that, wi th the help of three-dimensional sonography, it is possible to obtain reproducible images by a routine procedure which enables the localisat ion and demonstration of the bulbo-urethral glands could be definitive ly diagnosed and assessed in 3 patients. With the help of this non-inv asive diagnostic tool it is now possible to assess the regions of the pelvic floor and prostate quickly, easily and with great precision. An y site which has been assessed in the volume scan can be simultaneousl y visualised in the three planes, which renders measurements in all th ree dimensions possible.