Significant changes in transrectal ultrasonic measurements of the prostatein relation to the degree of rectal wall distension

The present study was conducted to reveal the possible changes in transrect al ultrasonic measurements of the prostate in relation to the degree of rec tal wall distension. When analyzed together for 51 men, all measurements bu t area changed statistically significantly as the rectal wall was distended by a balloon covering a probe. Ultrasonic measurements concerning the pros tatic shape changed more remarkably than those concerning its size. More im portantly, changes in ultrasonic measurements were much more remarkable in patients with a healthy prostate than in those with an advanced BPH. These results suggest that possible changes in prostatic shape with the rectal wa ll distension has to be taken into account when evaluating transrectal pros tatic ultrasonograms in terms of changes in shape, especially in patients w ith a healthy prostate. This is also the case when the diagnosis of BPH is made based on the change: in-shape, such as presumed circle area ratio, whi ch is a: parameter representing the roundness of the horizontal sonogram of the prostate. (C) 2000 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biolo gy.