Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of bladder tumours

In the course of the complex examination of 100 patients with bladder tumour also transabdominal, transrectal and intravesical ultrasonograms were taken. The pathological stages (pT) obtained by operation or at autopsy, respectively, were compared with the ultrasonographic stage (U). Transabdominal scanning revealed a concordance rate of 61%, transrectally one of 69% and by intravesical sonography a concordance rate of 92%. Transabdominal ultrasonography is suitable mainly for exploration in assessing the size and localization of the tumour. Transrectal ultrasonography is particularly useful if cystoscopy cannot be performed and it is a valuable aid in examining the size of tumours harboured at the bladder base. Intravesical sonography revealed the tumour in all cases and during scanning, by changing the volume of the bladder, changes in the elasticity and dilatability of the vesical wall could also be judged. Intravesical ultrasonography can be combined with cystoscopy. It is a rapid and straight-forward procedure and an ideal supplement to cystoscopy being currently the best possible diagnostic method for revealing infiltration of the vesical wall.