[From echo-sounding to color doppler sonography. The history of diagnostic ultrasonic diagnosis].

This is a report concerning with the development of ultrasound imaging from the very early beginning in the late 18. century by the brothers Curie until to sophisticated imaging units, which are today used for the color coded doppler sonography.

[Sonography of head and neck].

A brief, schematic summary of a workshop held in Davos 2003 is presented. Sonography of the head and neck has been carried out successfully since the beginning of the sonographical era, as this region is readily accessible to the transducer head and the superficial position of the organ can be very well visualized. The prerequisites are a high-resolution transducer-head (around 7.

[The history of head and neck sonography].

Although today ultrasound is well accepted in the diagnosis of head and neck diseases, often little is known about the young history of this technique. Many pioneers, physicians and engineers were involved in the development of the technique. In this article the history of ultrasound in general and of ultrasound of the head and neck is reflected.

[Sonography of the prostate].

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) with a high frequency (about 7 MHz) probes offers imaging of the zonal anatomy of the prostate and the typical changes caused to it by diseases. The carcinoma is hypoechogenic and can be diagnosed by TRUS more often than by digital rectal palpation. Ventrally localized carcinoma can also be detected.

[Echomorphology of the prostate].

The echogenic structures of 1983 transrectal sonographies of the prostate were analysed. In addition, 93 dissected prostates were investigated in waterbath in order to correlate sonographic and morphological structures. Compared to the normal gland, hyperplastic nodules are of the same density or slightly echodenser, rarely also with a poorer echo.

[Transrectal prostatosonography. Follow-up in prostate cancer therapy].

Thirty-five cases of prostate carcinoma were followed after orchiectomy and during drug therapy using both ultrasound and digital palpation to measure the prostate. Following orchiectomy and drug therapy the prostate shrunk an average of one third within six months independent of the grading and staging of the carcinoma. The biggest shrinkage was observed in the first two months after therapy.

[Sonographic diagnosis of a calculus in the obstructed pancreatic duct].

It is shown by means of a case report on a calculus in the dilated pancreatic duct, that abnormalities in small structures such as the pancreatic duct can be revealed by ultrasound, using current gray-scale instrumentation.

[Transrectal prostatic sonography. Evaluation of a pilot study].

The method of transrectal prostatic sonography is described. Evaluation of over 2700 examinations indicates a sensitivity and specificity for prostatic carcinomas of 88.7% and 97.

[The pelvicaliceal system in the sonogram--distinction between physiological and pathological dilatation].

Dilatation of the pelvicalyceal system was documented in volunteers with healthy kidneys in whom renal excretation was increased by means of a variety of methods. As a rule, the proximal ureter is not visualised. In mild or moderate urinary obstruction, however, the ureter is almost always visible, and stasis is mostly unilateral.

[Sonographic image of prostate cancer].

The echo structures of 325 carcinomas of the prostate gland were analysed out of a total of 2700 transrectal prostate sonographies. In addition, 93 prostate glands from postmortem examinations were examined sonographically in the water bath in order to enable accurate juxtapositioning of interesting sonographic structures and the proper morphological correlates in each case. The echo density of more than one-half of the total number of carcinomas was found to be equal to that of a normal prostate gland, although the carcinomas were characterised by hazy marginal definition or inhomogeneity.

[Craniocaudad extension of the head of the pancreas].

In 106 patients without pancreatic disease subjected to ultrasound examination the craniocaudad dimension of the pancreatic head was determined. The mean craniocaudad echographic size of the pancreatic head was 5.9 cm in female and 6.

[Sonographic artifacts of round reflectors].

The appearance of the proximal curved edge artifact using linear-array systems is demonstrated in five cases. Furthermore simulation of this artifact was achieved in a waterbath. A physical explanation of this phenomenon is discussed.

[Sonography of the efferent urinary tract. Suprapubic and intravesical methods].

The ability of sonographic methods to demonstrate the urinary passages and their abnormalities were studied systematically. The ureters can only be demonstrated if they are dilated. Sonography of the bladder can be used as a screening method for tumours, diverticula and stones.

[Transrectal prostate sonography in early cancer recognition].

Within a mass screening program 1016 patients were investigated by transrectal ultrasound. There is generally good correlation of palpation and ultrasound diagnostic. However, prostate carcinoma was less frequently suspected by ultrasound, 2 prostate carcinomas and 1 bladder carcinoma were detected, one prostate carcinoma was missed.

[Can sonography give an indication of the chemical composition of gallstones?].

Eight sonographic patterns caused by gall stones are described. In an attempt to explain these different appearances, 62 stones were analysed chemically and physically. The chemical composition of the stones did not correlate with their sonographic pattern.

[The image of prostatic adenoma and cancer in transrectal sonography].

The transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate is introduced. The sonographic appearance of the adenoma and carcinoma in 357 histologically proven cases is evaluated. Shape, symmetry and definition of the capsule are more reliable differential criteria than the internal echogenicity.

[Transrectal prostatic sonography (TPS)].

A new imaging method of the prostate is described. After the introduction of a sonographic transducer into the rectum, the prostate, the urinary bladder and the seminal vesicles are scanned. Typical transverse sonograms of benign hypertrophy, abscess, calculous disease and carcinomas are presented.

[Sonographic structural analysis of circumscribed organ processes--possibilities and limitations (author's transl)].

For the clinical examination three sonographic patterns - cystic, solid and mixed - are defined. Using 8 characteristics cases the difficulties of structure analysis are discussed and the problems involved in recognizing the mixed pattern are explained.