The Value of Computed Tomography and Ultrasound in Assessment of Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases in Patients with Clinically Locally Confined Carcinoma of the Prostate

Abstract

With the aim of detecting any metastases in pelvic lymph nodes, computed tomography (CT) was performed in 42 patients with clinically localized prostatic carcinoma, and ultrasound (US) examination in 35 of them, prior to pelvic lymphadenectomy. CT was positive in only one patient, and US was negative in all examined patients. At lymph node dissection macrometastases were found in four patients and histopathologic examination revealed micro-metastases in a further ten patients. It is concluded that in clinically locally confined prostatic carcinoma CT and US are insensitive in diagnosing pelvic lymph node metastases, and that lymph node dissection remains the only method for staging of the regional lymph nodes.

Key Words:

• Computed tomography
• Ultrasound
• Lymph node metastases
• Prostatic carcinoma