TRUS-GUIDED DRAINAGE OF PROSTATIC ABSCESS WITH A PIGTAIL TUBE

Prostaic abscess is a rare but often severe disease. In most cases dia gnosis is difficult. The best diagnostic tool is transrectal ultrasoun d, which depicts prostatic abscess very clearly. The therapy of choice to date is surgery, usually transurethral resection. At the Departmen t of Urology of the University of Kiel we have employed another form o f treatment, namely perineal drainage of the abscess with a pigtail tu be under transrectal ultrasound guidance. This method is expected to b e particularly advantageous in younger patients, for whom transurethra l resection may cause problems. Five patients aged 24-71 years have be en treated in this manner so far.