Ultrasound anatomy for prostate brachytherapy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Prostate brachytherapy requires precise needle placement.
• Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance can be disorienting for surgeons, even experienced ones.
• Familiarity with regional anatomy and sonographic appearance is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a review of the anatomy relevant to ultrasound-guided prostate procedures.
• To illustrate the sonographic appearance of the prostate and surrounding structures.
• To introduce concepts of prostate planimetry for dosimetry planning in brachytherapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of anatomical structures of the prostate region.
• Presentation of sonographic images correlating with anatomical landmarks.
• Discussion of prostate planimetry principles.

Main Results:

• Detailed anatomical review for ultrasound-guided procedures.
• Visual guide correlating anatomy with sonographic imaging.
• Introduction to planimetry for radiation dosimetry.

Conclusions:

• Experience with transrectal ultrasound examinations is invaluable for prostate brachytherapy.
• Understanding regional anatomy and its sonographic representation is key to overcoming procedural disorientation.
• Prostate planimetry plays a role in dosimetry planning.