Preoperative evaluation of localized prostatic carcinoma by transrectal ultrasonography.

We evaluated 31 patients with clinically localized prostatic carcinoma by transrectal ultrasonography before radical prostatectomy. Results of ultrasonography were reviewed without previous knowledge of the extent of the disease and were compared to the pathological staging obtained by step section of the prostate. Preoperative transrectal ultrasonography was sensitive in detecting capsular and seminal vesicle involvement (89 and 100 per cent, respectively). However, the specificity of the method was low for capsular involvement (50 per cent), probably owing to the inability of this method to detect microscopic disease. This method is a valuable tool in the preoperative evaluation of patients with clinically localized prostatic carcinoma.