Elastic and ultrasonic properties of the prostate

Although ultrasound imaging of the prostate continues to attract increasing clinical attention, little has been published on the fundamental ultrasound properties of normal and abnormal prostates. This report provides data on ultrasound properties of whole canine and human prostate specimens, and also the results of measurements of elastic properties of whole organs. The high frequency (ultrasound) properties are germane to B-scan imaging of the prostate, whereas the low frequency (elastic) properties are germane to the perceived “stiffness” of the organ during palpation. The two domains of high frequency (MHz ultrasound imaging) and low frequency (elastic constants) have recently been coupled by a novel technique called “"sonoelasticity imaging,” and understanding of the basic properties is required for successful development of sonoelastic techniques