Diagnostic accuracy and its limitations in prostatic cancer by means of transrectal ultrasonotomography.

We evaluated transrectal ultrasonotomography performed on 97 cases of prostatic cancer and obtained the following results: Transrectal ultrasonotomography was far more accurate in the diagnosis and staging of prostatic cancer than palpation. However, diagnosis is rarely difficult in cases with a symmetric and non-deformed prostatic shape. Though transrectal ultrasonotomography is very sensitive in the detection of extracapsular cancer infiltration, under-estimation of staging may still occur in some instances.