Canine prostatic disease—comparison of radiographic appearance with morphologic and microbiologic findings: 30 cases (1981–1985)

Abstract

Summary A retrospective analysis was made of radiographs from 24 clinically normal young adult male Beagles used in previously reported base-line research on the distal male urinary tract. The ventrodorsal and craniocaudal prostate gland dimensions were measured, as visualized on the lateral radiographic view, and expressed as a ratio of the distance between the cranial aspect of the pubic bone and the sacral promontory. In 17 of these 24 dogs, there was sufficient image clarity to permit confident measurement of prostatic dimensions. From these data, the largest acceptable prostatic dimension, as visualized on the lateral radiographic view, was 70% of the pubic-promontory distance. A retrospective analysis was made of 30 cases of canine prostatic disease, with the objective of identifying the radiographic (survey and distention retrograde urethrocystogram) appearance most often associated with the various spontaneous prostatic diseases. Prostatomegaly was not specific for the cause of prostatic disease, except if the apparent parenchymal dimensions were ≥90% of the public-promontory distance wherein neoplasia, abscess, and paraprostatic cysts (readily differentiated from diffuse intraparenchymal disease by ultrasonography) were the principle considerations. Multifocal, irregularly shaped, parenchymal mineral densities were observed only in dogs with prostatic carcinoma (4/7 cases) or prostatitis (1 case of chronic prostatitis). Narrowing of the prostatic portion of the urethra was observed only in association with abscess, neoplasm, or noninflammatory nonneoplastic disease (possibly benign hypertrophy/hyperplasia), whereas widening of this part of the urethra was not observed. Asymmetric distribution of the prostatic parenchyma around the urethra was not specific for type of disease, but was indicative of focal or regional (rather than diffuse) parenchymal disease. Destruction or distortion of the prostatic urethra was observed only as a result of neoplasia, but appearance was insufficient to differentiate prostatic from nonprostatic cell types.