Sonometrics of the prostate.

Determination of prostatic size by rectal examination is inaccurate if objective and reproducible values are desired. Sonometrics, a combination of transrectal sonography and biometrics, is a simple method to determine prostatic weight. The optomanual image analyzing system (BIT PAD-TRS 80) consists of a digitizer tablet, cursor, processing unit and keyboard (TRS 80). The photographic records or the image of the prostate on the scan can be measured with the optomanual image analysis system by tracing the circumference of the prostate. Using the computer one can calculate length, area and circumference of the sonogram. When the postoperative and sonometrically estimated weights were compared a good correlation coefficient was found. The studies on age-dependent growth of the prostate show an age-volume relationship similar to that shown in the study by Swyer. As demonstrated in patients with hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism change in prostatic volume also can be assessed in small prostates.