The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of bacterial prostatitis in dogs

Palpation of the prostate, examination of urine and prostatic fluid, radiography, ultrasonography, fine-needle aspiration and biopsy of the prostatic gland may be performed to diagnose prostatic disease (Chaffaux, 1979; Johnson, 1985; Barasanti and Finco. 1989; Augustine et al., 1995; Dorfman and Barsanti, 1995). Sonographic parenchymal echogenicity of the prostate has also been evaluated (Barsanti and Finco, loc. cit.; Miles, 1989; Cartee et al., 1990). Inflammatory and neoplastic diseases may result in focal to multifocal areas of, increased echogenity, whereas cavitating diseases appear focally hypoechoic to anechoic (Barr, 1988; Barsanti and Finco, loc. cit.; Gerwing and Kramer, 1996).