TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND IN THE EVALUATION OF RHABDOMYOSARCOMA INVOLVING THE PROSTATE

Objective To evaluate transrectal ultrasound as a means of diagnosis a nd of monitoring patients with rhabdomyosarcoma involving the prostate . Patients and methods Serial transrectal ultrasonography was utilized to evaluate prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma in three patients. Results Unl ike prostatic adenocarcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma involving the prostate, which are predominantly hypoechoic, the echogenicity of rhabdomyosarcoma is similar to that of the normal prostate. Transrect al ultrasound provided a simple means of monitoring prostate size and sampling tissue in these patients. Conclusion Transrectal ultrasound i maging can be useful in both diagnosis and evaluation of treatment res ponse as well as provide easy access for biopsies in patients with rha bdomyosarcoma involving the prostate.