ECHO COLOR DOPPLER AND ECHOTOMOGRAPHIC CONTRAST MEDIA IN THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS BETWEEN PROSTATIC CANCER AND GRANULOMATOUS PROSTATITIS

Objective. We wish to evaluate the possibility of a differential diagnosis between prostatic cancer and granulomatous prostatitis based on the findings of ultrasound technology using echotomografic contrast media and color doppler imaging. Patients and Methods. 10 patients with granulomatous prostatitis and 10 patients with prostatic cancer underwent a prostatic echo color doppler. In all cases the diagnosis was supported by a prostatic biopsy. 3 patients with granulomatous prostatitis and 3 patients with prostatic cancer were also evaluated alter administration of echotomografic contrast media (Levovist-Shering). Results. Both echo color doppler imaging and power doppler showed prostatic vascularization in patients with granulomatous prostatitis and in patients with prostatic cancer but didn't reveal any objective differences between the two groups. The administration of echotomographic contrast media showed a greater enhancement in vascularization imagery compared with the non contrastographic examination, and also a greater enhancement in patients with granulomatous prostatitis compared to those with prostatic cancer. Conclusions. Even if bopsy is the most important examination for the differential diagnosis between granulomatous prostatitis and prostatic cancer, the echotomographic contrast media, which shows a difference in vascularization between these two diseases, could be helpful. Biopsy can be postponed and performed only in those patients who stili raise suspicion on echotomografic fingings alter antinflammatory therapy.