Elastography of the prostate in the detection of prostate cancer

Introduction This paper presents initial experience with a new Toshiba elastography imaging system used to detect prostate cancer. Since this is a preliminary evaluation, the elastography imaging procedure was performed in addition to our standard procedure of ten systematic biopsies, plus extra biopsies of suspicious areas where appropriate. The elastography images did not influence the biopsy pattern and the elastography findings were subsequently compared with tumour detection on the biopsy cores (all cores are labelled separately) and with radical prostatectomy specimens where available. The number of patients studied is not yet sufficient to present hard data, but the following initial impressions of the procedure, illustrative case reports and discussion of the possible role of elastography in the detection of prostate cancer may provide a starting point for further studies.