Value of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis and management of prostate carcinoma

The aim of the paper is to review and illustrate the role of sonoelastography in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of prostate cancer. The examination technique and normal appearance are presented. The paper describes and illustrates the appearance of prostate cancer and suggested diagnostic scores. Artifacts, causes for false results and limitations are discussed and also illustrated. The diagnostic influence of intraprostatic tumor location, tumor volume and Gleason score are presented. The paper also reviews the statistical diagnostic value of the method, the relation to prostate biopsy and magnetic resonance assessment. In the end, potential uses and future developments of the method are mentioned.