The use of transrectal ultrasound in the detection and evaluation of local pelvic recurrences after a radical urological pelvic operation.

Transrectal ultrasound was performed in 20 patients with suspected local pelvic recurrence after a radical pelvic operation: 9 had undergone radical prostatectomy and 11 had undergone radical cystoprostatectomy. Transrectal sonography verified the presence of recurrence in 19 of 20 patients (95%) and this was confirmed by biopsy of the visualized lesions. Analysis of the sonographic echo patterns encountered revealed that in 14 of 19 recurrent neoplasms (71.5%) the echogenic pattern was hypoechoic. In the remaining 6 patients (31.5%) the echo pattern was isoechoic. No hyperechoic lesions were noted. Based upon our findings and because of the low costs compared to other diagnostic modalities transrectal ultrasound represents an ideal technique to compliment the digital rectal examination in evaluation of patients suspected of harboring a local pelvic recurrence after a radical pelvic operation.