Computed tomography in the evaluation of the suspected carcinomatous prostate.

Twenty-six patients with physical findings suspicious for prostatic cancer were examined by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the prostate region prior to prostatic biopsy of resection. Twelve had benign hypertrophy and/or prostatitis and fourteen had adenocarcinoma. Prostatic contour, density, seminal vesicle "angle," extraprostatic soft tissue "mass," and the pelvic fat planes were evaluated. A nodular prostatic contour was found only in patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate, indicating a role for CT in the diagnosis of this disease. Two patients with benign prostatic disease had extraprostatic soft tissue "masses" identical to those seen in six patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate, suggesting limited usefulness of CT in staging patients with known tumor.