Transrectal prostatic sonography as a useful diagnostic means for patients with chronic prostatitis or prostatodynia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sonographic changes that occur in patients with chronic prostatitis and compare them with those of non-inflammatory prostatodynia using transrectal prostatic sonography (TPS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, TPS findings were analysed in 88 men with chronic prostatitis and 53 patients with prostatodynia, all of whom had undergone a standardized diagnostic procedure to detect inflammation.

RESULTS: A statistically significant accumulation of prostatic calcifications and unilateral seminal gland alterations was demonstrated in patients with chronic inflammation. Nevertheless, both findings were also present in patients with prostatodynia (22% and 11%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: TPS is widely recommended for differential diagnosis in cases of chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. Prostatic calcifications and seminal vesical abnormalities are regarded as typical signs of inflammation. The results of this study show that these sonographic abnormalities are indicative but do not prove the presence of chronic prostatitis.