[Ultrasound contrast agents and prostate cancer].

Prostatic carcinoma is the most frequent malignant disease in men and associated with very high mortality. The diagnostic work-up of prostatic carcinoma is based on tests to determine the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination, and transrectal sonography. Due to diagnostic limitations, ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is the method of choice for diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. New imaging technologies allow detection of prostatic carcinoma, thus facilitating removal of specific biopsy specimens from these regions. Introduction of ultrasound contrast agents ("echo signal enhancers") significantly increased the diagnostic potential of this method, making it possible to visualize tumor vascularization.