Recognition of the pattern in ultrasonic sectional pictures of the prostate for tumor diagnosis.

To diagnose tumorous alterations of the prostate, we examined the organ with ultrasonics by scanning directly from the abdominal wall through the filled bladder (transvesical). The research is aimed at: 1) improvement and mathematical preparation of the ultrasonic pictures to assist the physician in his diagnosis. 2) ascertainment of significant parameters which allow the classes "normal prostate", "adenoma" and "carcinoma" to be distinguished in screening examinations. The results show that with ultrasonics, adenomas and carcinomas are recognizable in 96% of the examined patients and can be differentiated from normal prostate tissue. The palpation finding was used as a reference in most cases.