Ultrasound as an alternative to intravenous urography in prostatism

Seventy-five patients, with uncomplicated benign prostatic hypertrophy referred for pre-prostatectomy assessment, were studied to determine whether renal tract ultrasound combined with plain films of kidney, ureters and bladder could provide an acceptable alternative to intravenous urography (IVU). All patients had both IVU and ultrasound. Bladder residual urine volumes were calculated by ultrasound measurements. Fifty-nine (78%) patients had normal IVU and ultrasound. Twelve (16%) had both abnormal IVU and abnormal ultrasound. Four (6%) had positive findings on one examination not detected on the other: two of these occurred with ultrasound and two with IVU. Measurement of residual volume of urine in the bladder by ultrasound and IVU is discussed. The combination of ultrasound and a plain radiograph of the urinary tract provides more information and should replace IVU in the preoperative assessment of patients with uncomplicated benign hypertrophy of the prostate.