Introduction

Uses

• Investigation of:
  • Dysuria.
  • Hematuria Hematuria.
  • Stranguria.
  • Urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence.
  • Palpable or radiographic prostatic enlargement.
  • Palpable or radiographic caudal abdominal mass.

Advantages

• Low cost.
• Non-invasive.
• Straightforward.
• Short time requirement.
• Rarely requires sedation.
• No known biological risk.
• Allows ultrasound guided fine needle aspirate or biopsy.

Disadvantages

• May require patient's coat to be clipped.
• Normal sonographic appearance does not exclude disease.
• Abnormal sonographic appearance does not always indicate significant disease.
• Similar sonographic appearance with different diseases.

Potential problems

• Poor transducer-skin contact:
  • Inadequate clipping.
  • Insufficient coupling medium.
• Inadequate patient restraint.
• Operator inexperience.
• Patient has urinated prior to examination so bladder is emtpy.
• Intrapelvic prostate.

Alternatives

• Plain or contrast radiography.

Equipment

Patient preparation

Technique

Normal Anatomy

Abnormalities

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Boland L E, Hardie R J, Gregory S P et al (2003) Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage as the primary treatment for prostatic abscesses and cysts in dogs. JAAHA 39 (2), 151-159 PubMed.
• Cruz-Arámbulo R & Wrigley R (2003) Ultrasonography of the acute abdomen. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract 18 (1), 20-31 PubMed.
• Kamolpatana K, Johnston G R & Johnston S D (2000) Determination of canine prostatic volume using transabdominal ultrasonography. Vet Rad Ultra 41 (1), 73-77 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Green R W & Homco L D (1996) Prostate Gland. In: Small Animal Ultrasound. Ed: Green R W. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia. pp 237-250.
• Mattoon J S & Nyland T G (1995) Ultrasonography of the Genital System. In: Veterinary Diagnostic Ultrasound. Eds: Nyland T G and Mattoon J S. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia. pp 151-159.