[Prostatic cancer: role of echography in the diagnosis, evaluation and surveillance].

The author reviews the latest technical improvements, the benefits and limitations of prostatic sonography in the evaluation and follow-up of prostatic cancer. Emphasis is put on the optimal cost/risks/information ratio of transrectal scanning, the accuracy of real-time ultrasound guided transperineal prostatic biopsies and the basic role of transrectal sonography in monitoring the response to treatment.