RETROVESICAL MASS IN MEN: PITFALLS OF DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

Digital rectal examination and sonography reliably detect a retrovesical mass. Nevertheless, clinical signs and median or lateral location relative to the bladder neck on ultrasound are diagnostic only for cystic lesions. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful for staging malignant tumors. However, needle or open biopsy is required in most cases to establish a histopathological diagnosis. Exploratory laparotomy and histopathological examination are the procedures of choice when other findings are equivocal.