LAUSR

AIMS To assess the feasibility, findings and potential value of early post-interventional, contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic (CEUS) study of prostate artery embolization (PAE). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fourteen patients treated with PAE for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were prospectively included in the study. Sonographic evaluation of the prostate included: 1) baseline transabdominal and transrectal CEUS (ta-CEUS and tr-CEUS, respectively) 1-3 days prior to PAE; 2) early post PAE CEUS, with ta-CEUS immediately post PAE and tr-CEUS 3 days post PAE; and 3) follow-up with ta-CEUS and tr-CEUS 3 months post PAE. A brief unenhanced US study preceded each CEUS. Post-therapeutic changes in size, echogenicity and enhancement of the prostate were recorded and were correlated with clinical outcomes. RESULTS PAE resulted in clinical success in 11/14 patients (78.5%). All sonographic studies were technically adequate, with the exception of ta-CEUS immediately post PAE in 2/14 (14.2%) patients. CEUS studies immediately post PAE and 3 days post PAE showed non-enhancing, welldefined infarctions of the prostate in 10/14 patients (71.4%). There was a strong correlation between ta-CEUS immediately post PAE and tr-CEUS 3 days post PAE regarding the measurements of prostatic infarctions (r =0.98, p< 0.01). The presence of infarctions on early post PAE CEUS was associated with clinical success (p=0.01) and their extent correlated with the degree of prostate shrinkage on 3-month follow-up (r=0.84, p<0.05). The 3 cases of failed PAE showed no infarctions and no prostate shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS Early post-interventional CEUS of PAE is feasible and may have clinical and prognostic value.