Transrectal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, transrectal ultrasonography and retrograde cystography for the detection of vesicourethral anastomosis leakage after radical retropubic prostatectomy: a prospective comparative evaluation.
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cystography (CG), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and transrectal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for the detection of vesicourethral extravasation (VE) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). In 80 consecutive patients who underwent RRP, the strength of the vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) was assessed by CG, TRUS and transrectal CEUS. The investigation started with a conventional CG evaluated by an experienced uroradiologist. Following this, patients underwent TRUS which was performed by an experienced urologist who was blinded to the CG findings. The examination started with a conventional B-scan and, subsequently, a CEUS was performed by emptying and refilling the bladder with 90 ml of NaCl 0.9% + 10 ml suspension of 1:10 SonoVue and NaCl 0.9%. 26 patients (32.5%) presented urinary VE and 54 (67.5%) a watertight VUA. In 16 patients (61%) we observed a small leakage, 9 patients (35%) presented a moderate VE, and a large VE was detected in 1 patient (4%). No statistically significant difference in detection of VE was found among the three tests (p = 0.472). TRUS and CEUS are able to provide information about the integrity of the VUA that is comparable with that of CG.