[Transrectal prostatosonography. Follow-up in prostate cancer therapy]

Thirty-five cases of prostate carcinoma were followed after orchiectomy and during drug therapy using both ultrasound and digital palpation to measure the prostate. Following orchiectomy and drug therapy the prostate shrunk an average of one third within six months independent of the grading and staging of the carcinoma. The biggest shrinkage was observed in the first two months after therapy. There was agreement between transrectal ultrasonography (TPS) and digital palpation in judging the prostate capsule in two thirds of the cases. Ultrasonographically, a downstaging of the capsule in twenty per cent and an upstaging in fourteen per cent of the cases was found. Three quarters of the G II prostate carcinomas improved ultrasonographically in structure and capsule in the twelve month period of observation while two thirds of the G III prostate carcinomas did not improve. According to our results the routine use of TPS seems not to be indicated when only gross measurement is desired. However TPS is an objective and reliable method für testing the effects of medication on prostate carcinomas.