[Color Doppler enhancement with contrast agents for the detection of prostatic cancer]

Transrectal color Doppler sonography for the prostate has been studied since 1986. The detection rate of blood flow images inside the prostate were higher (89%, 49/55) in cases of prostatic cancer than in cases of other prostatic diseases (27 %, 12/45). These blood flow images were considered to be characteristic of prostatic cancer. Recently color Doppler enhancement with contrast agents were applied to transrectal sonography. In 9 cases of prostatic cancer, microbubble contrast agents (SH/TH508) were injected via an antecubital vein. Blood flow images were enhanced in all these cases. Even in cases of localized cancer, blood flow images were visualized clearly in the cancer lesion. This new modality might be useful for detection of prostatic cancer in early stages.