Prostate

The prostate can be easy to visualize with point-of-care ultrasound. It is typically described as being walnut-sized (which tends to enlarge with aging) with a homogeneous echotexture located inferior to the bladder neck. A full bladder provides a very nice acoustic window and greatly facilitates visualization of the prostate. Transrectal ultrasound imaging of the prostate is best for improved resolution imaging. Prostate imaging can provide useful information for the evaluation of urinary retention, hematuria, cancer, urolithiasis, urinary tract infections, anuria, pelvic pain, and silent pathology [1–3]. The primary goal of a focused prostate ultrasound is to determine the size, shape, and assess for pathology such as obstructive uropathy and cancer. Advantages of using ultrasound in prostate imaging are like those of other organ assessments: decreased cost and risk compared to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, not necessarily requiring contrast agents, painless, noninvasive, inexpensive, efficient, accurate, provides immediate information, and lacks ionizing radiation.