Transrectal ultrasound appearance of hematolymphoid malignancies involving the prostate.

OBJECTIVES: Although the clinical presentation and physical examination findings in patients with lymphoma or leukemia involving the prostate have been described previously, the transrectal ultrasound appearance of hematolymphoid malignancies involving the prostate has not been previously described.

METHODS: Nine patients with prostate cancer diagnosed by transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies were found to have hematolymphoid malignancies involving the prostate at the time of subsequent radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. The ultrasound images and prostate needle biopsy results are presented.

RESULTS: Prospective analysis of transrectal ultrasound images revealed no abnormality other than hypoechogenicity typical of prostate cancer in 7 of the 9 patients (77.8%). In 2 patients, the ultrasound images were free of any abnormalities. In 2 of the 9 patients (22.2%), the prostate needle biopsies demonstrated suspicious lymphocytic infiltrate in addition to prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Transrectal ultrasound does not detect hematolymphoid malignancies involving the prostate. Ultrasound-guided biopsies of the prostate have a very low rate of detecting these malignancies.