Ultrasound in endourology.

Ultrasonography was first used as a therapeutic aid in endourology in the early 1970s. Since that time, ultrasound has played an important role, and nowadays, interventional ultrasonography is an established procedure in urology. Procedures on the kidney, bladder, and prostate, which require different puncture techniques, are performed under ultrasound guidance. Today, extracorporeal shockwaves for the treatment of stones and Peyronie's disease are applied under ultrasonic control. Furthermore, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is used experimentally for the treatment of renal tumors and, clinically, for the treatment of prostate cancer. In urologic emergencies, diagnostic and interventional ultrasonography is an important tool. Interventional ultrasound in urology has become an outstanding tool for the planning and performance of a variety of procedures, and every urologist should be able to use these technologies.