Use of miniature ultrasonic probe system for intravesical ultrasonography for transitional cell cancer of the urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the use of a miniature ultrasonic probe (MUP) system for intravesical ultrasonography for staging of urinary bladder and/or ureteral tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with bladder tumors were enrolled in this study. Probes (8 F; 15 and 20 MHz) were inserted through a channel in a 22 F rigid cystoscopy sheath.

RESULTS: Using the MUP, each tumor could be scanned under simultaneous cystoscopic observation to choose the optimal probe position. However, in 4 of 17 patients optimal scanning could not be obtained because of large tumors and poor ultrasound penetration or because of tumor localization at the anterior dome which did not allow an appropriate scanning plane for staging. Of 13 evaluable patients, 5 with no interruption or folding of the low-echoic muscle layer were diagnosed as having a superficial tumor, and this was confirmed histopathologically in all but one case. All 8 cases evaluated as having invasive tumors demonstrated muscle invasion histologically.

CONCLUSION: The MUP can be more easily manipulated than a conventional probe.