No abstract

No abstract

A bstract. Planimetrie volumetry is used in clinical practice when accurate volume determination of the prostate is needed. The prostate volume is determined by discretization of the 3D prostate shape. The area of the prostate is calculated in consecutive ultrasonographic cross-sections. This area is multiplied by the distance between the cross-sections and the total volume is determined by summation of al! contributions. Besides the quality of the automated outlining, the accuracy of this method depends on this intersection distance and on the angle of the scan plane with the probe. Also, the location of the first cross-section is of influence. This paper describes the influences of these parameters on the accuracy of the volume determination using a simple prostate model. This theoretical influence is compared to clinical volume determinations using automated planimetrìe volumetry with different step sizes. From our data, it is concluded that a step size of 4 mm for pianimetric prostate volume determination is a good compromise between investigation time and accuracy in a clinical setting.

Purpose: The reliability and objectivity of computer assisted transrectal ultrasound are exam ined.M aterials and Methods: Pathological examination of radical prostatectomy specimens was compared prospectively to automated cancer detection in corresponding transrectal ultrasound im ages.Results: For automated cancer detection, a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.78 were obtained. Moreover, 74% of hum an interpretation of the percentage of malignancy in the analyzed im ages was equal to the actual calculated percentage (Pearson's product moment correla tion coefficient 0.85).Conclusions: Comparing these results to those obtained with normal transrectal ultrasound, autom ated analysis provides additional information in the interpretation of transrectal ultra sound images by color coding them in an objective manner according to the probability of malignancy.

BACKGROUND The diagnostic value of prostate volume results has been evaluated in patients with prostate problems of benign cause. METHODS For 247 patients, automated volume results were compared to manual results of planimetric reference volume and of the classical ellipsoid formula. Also, transition zone volume was estimated and growth curves of the prostate and prostate dimensions over age were investigated. RESULTS Application of automated volume determination gives accurate results compared to the reference volume (Pearson correlation, R = 0.938). The ellipsoid volume results were slightly less correlated (R = 0.921). Average growth of the entire prostate was 1.7% per year, for the transition zone the growth was 4.3%. Compared to growth rates for a community‐based population, comparable growth rates were found for our group that had higher mean prostate volume. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the age of onset of volume growth is the determining factor in developing benign prostate enlargement not a change in growth rate. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.