Use of transrectal ultrasound in the management of urologic diseases in a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria

Background: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate is considered as a standard of care for diagnosis of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to document our experience in the use of TRUS in the management of urologic diseases in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who had TRUS at UDUTH from December 2009 to November 2017. Relevant data were extracted from the procedure register, and case folders of the patients. Data analysis was performed using IPSS 20.0 version. Results: A total of 844 patients had the procedure within the period of the study. The mean age of the patients was 65.6 +/- 10.6 years with a range of 7-98 years. The main clinical diagnoses of the patients were benign prostatic hyperplasia in 528 patients (62.6%), prostate cancer in 285 patients (33.8%) and primary infertility + azoospermia in 17 patients (2.1%). Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy was done for 807 patients (96%). TRUS only was done for assessment of seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct in 17 patients (2.1%), prostate volume assessment in 10 patients (1.1%) and deflation of retained urethral catheter balloon in 9 patients (1%). There was self-limiting rectal bleeding in 600 patients (74.4%) and 3 patients (0.4%) each developed haematuria and postbiopsy infections. Conclusion: Prostate biopsy is the most common indication for TRUS in our practice. Other indications were estimation of prostatic volume, evaluation of azoospermia and deflation of retained urethral catheter balloon.