Doppler Ultrasound

Jefferson Prostate Diagnostic Center

COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND

Prostate cancer has increased vascularity (left image: prostate cancer with invasion of rectal wall)

Inflammatory foci may also demonstrate color flow (right image: focal chronic prostatitis in right base)

Blood flow is detected by Doppler frequency shifts, and displayed as a color overlay on the image

Increased color flow in cancer is related to tumor vascularity and inversely related to prognosis

Amplitude Doppler (Power Doppler) is a newer, more sensitive technology for detection of slow blood flow
Left image: Benign prostatic hyperplasia with increased flow to the enlarged inner gland
Right image: Infiltrating carcinoma with diffusely increased flow in the peripheral hypoechoic tumor

Color Doppler (left) and amplitude Doppler (right) demonstrate normal flow patterns in a patient with mild benign prostatic hyperplasia. Flow along the right posterolateral aspect of the gland (8:00) corresponds to the neurovascular bundle
Color Doppler conveys velocity and directional information (coded as red or blue), while amplitude Doppler intensity if proportional to flow volume