THE VALUE OF IMAGING TECHNIQUES IN THE DI AGNOSIS OF BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA AND PROSTATE-CANCER

Diseases of the prostate are of high socioeconomic importance owing to their high incidence and prevalence rates. Benign prostatic hyperplas ia (BPH) can be detected in 80% of males over the age of 80. Clinical symptoms do not correlate with organ enlargement. Only 10 % of patient s with BPH need surgical treatment. The decision for surgical treatmen t is made as a result of objective findings and the symptoms reported by the patient. Preoperative evaluation of BPH must include digital re ctal examination (DRE), measurement of peak flow rate, sonographic est imation of residual urine, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), urethrocysto graphy and the assessment of subjective complaints using symptom score s. Prostatic carcinoma is the most common malignancy in men. An abnorm al DRE, increased PSA level and/or hypoechogenic lesions in TRUS are i ndications for prostate biopsy. The sensitivity of TRUS is superior to that of CT and MRI. New MRI techniques are promising with regard to l ocal tumour extent. Whereas CT and MRI arc not useful in screening of patients, these methods are valuable diagnostic tools in the follow-up of prostate cancer.