Purpose: Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) has been used as an imaging modality for evaluating the prostate rather than the urinary bladder. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of TRUS for detecting bladder lesions.
Materials and Methods: TRUS images of 979 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed with respect to the bladder abnormality. Only 327 patients out of 979 were enrolled in the study. These 327 patients underwent other imaging modalities within adequate time interval, to confirm the findings of TRUS. Other imaging modalities consist of intravenous pyelography, cystourethrography, abdominal ultrasonography, MDCT, and MRI.
Results: Twenty two patients had abnormal finding in bladder on TRUS. In 21 patients out of 22, the findings on the other examinations were consistent with those on TRUS. In one patient, abnormal finding was not found in other imaging modality. In 305 patients, abnormal finding was not present in bladder on TRUS. In 23 patients out of 305, abnormal finding was present in other imaging modalities. TRUS showed the high specificity (99.6%) and the low sensitivity (47.7%).
Conclusion: Our study showed the high specificity and the low sensitivity of TRUS in detecting urinary bladder lesions. In conclusion, we suggest that examiners should be careful not to overlook any abnormality of the urinary bladder during TRUS.