Characteristics of normal prostate vascular anatomy as displayed by power Doppler

BACKGROUND. To define the vascular anatomy of the normal prostate as depict ed by power Doppler and to provide baseline data for evaluation of this mod ality in the diagnosis and management of prostatic disease. METHODS. The vascular anatomy of 40 subjects was studied. Power Doppler ima ges were correlated with corresponding gray-scale images. Doppler spectral waveform measurements were obtained for the vessels identified. RESULTS. Separate branches of the capsular vessels were visualized clearly, distributed radially in the peripheral and central zones and converging to ward the center of the gland. Urethral vessels were visualized in the trans ition zone coursing from bladder neck to verumontanum. The neurovascular bu ndles were identified posterolaterally along the length of the gland. No si gnificant difference between the resistive indexes of the urethral and caps ular vessels was identified (P = 0.595), although there was a significant d ifference between the resistive index of the neurovascular bundles and that the prostatic vessels (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. The vascular anatomy of the normal prostate as displayed by po wer Doppler demonstrates a reproducible and symmetric flaw pattern. Power D oppler is highly sensitive in depicting blood flow, the number, course, and continuity of vessels more readily than other imaging modalities, such as color Doppler. These data should allow comparison of the vascular anatomy o f the normal prostate with that of the prostate with diseases such as prost ate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 46:282-288, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.