Transrectal Sonography and the Seminal Vesicles

Transrectal sonography is a relatively new modality for imaging the seminal vesicles. With high-resolution instrumentation, this technique provides a less invasive and more detailed means of viewing the seminal vesicles than is possible with seminal vesiculography, computed tomography (CT), transabdominal sonography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Although experience with transrectal sonography of the seminal vesicles is somewhat limited, normal and abnormal features are being defined with respect to size, symmetry, and sonographic pattern. Included in this paper are the preliminary results of our experience with sonography-guided diagnostic aspiration and therapeutic injection of seminal vesicles in patients with intractable chronic prostatitis and suspected seminal vesiculitis. The ultimate role of these diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is yet to be determined.