[Computed tomographic staging of prostatic cancer].

77 patients with carcinoma of the prostate (stage T1 = 4, stage T2 = 17, stage T3 = 28, stage T4 = 28) were investigated by computerized tomography for staging. Intracapsular stage T1 tumors could not be identified as such. About 50% of clinical stage T2 tumors were shown to be of stage T3 by CT, whereas one fifth of the clinical stage T3 tumors were overestimated as demonstrated by CT. The extension of stage T4 tumors was more accurately depicted by CT then by clinical investigation. Inspite of the high diagnostic accuracy of CT for detecting regional lymph node metastases diagnostic lymphadenectomy is necessary prior to any major surgical intervention.