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This report is concerning on our experience in the management of the incidental prostatic cancer treated by laser irradiation and transrectal ultrasounds (TRUS). 22 patients, with stage A incidental prostatic cancer, underwent preliminary TRUS to evaluate suspected areas of residual tumor and/or the capsule thickness. 5 patients, before the laser irradiation, have been treated with 2nd look TURP because residual tumor or much residual prostatic tissue was present. Following TRUS evaluation all the patients underwent a laser irradiation with TRUS guidance. During the laser irradiation TRUS evaluation allows to recognize the anatomy of the prostatic capsule, the thickness of the capsule and to perform a safety and complete laser irradiation of the prostatic capsule with a depth laser irradiation. In the postoperative follow-up the TRUS demonstrated, in 18 patients, a complete laser induced fibrosis of the capsule. In conclusion the TRUS represents a good technique for pre and postoperative evaluation in the patients of stage A prostatic cancer treated with laser irradiation.

Diagnostic and therapeutic values regarding echoguided percutaneous treatment of intraprostatic cysts are reviewed and discussed. Since 1987 we have detected by ultrasonography 48 intraprostatic cysts, 22 asymptomatic patients were evaluated periodically. A ultrasound guided percutaneous puncture was performed in 26 symptomatic patients. 10 patients affected by dysuria were treated by aspiration and injection of antibiotics. 14 oligospermic patients underwent cyst aspiration followed by introduction of sclerosing agents (aethoxysclerol or alcohol). In one communicating cyst simple aspiration has been performed. A giant cystoadenoma has been resolved by surgical procedure. In the follow-up (2 months - 6 years) we observed: 5 recurrences (50%) in the cysts treated with antibiotics and 6 (43%) recurrences in the cysts treated with sclerosing agents. However, 8 patients out of 10 obtained a resolution of the urinary symptoms and 8 patients out of 14 improved their seminal parameters. On our experience, percutaneous echoguided treatment of prostatic cysts is a suitable and safe technique because of the possibility to resolve some clinic problems, although an high recurrence rate.

22 patients affected by BPH have been treated with a spiral urethral prosthesis under local anesthesia with ultrasonic guidance and endoscopic technique. All the patients either refused the surgical procedure or had high operative risk. Insertion guided by ultrasound and endoscopic technique was successful in 19 patients (86%) with a follow-up of 12 months. In our experience the insertion of this prosthesis is a favorable alternative to an indwelling catheter in selected patients.

285 affected by BPH have been evaluated by transrectal ultrasound. All the patients had a palpably normal prostate without abnormality suggestive of cancer. 56 patients (19.6%) presented ultrasonic abnormality areas. Under ultrasound guidance, biopsy was done by the transperineal route and biopsy material showed the presence of prostatic carcinoma in 24 patients (8.3%). 6 of these had neoplasm in the non peripheral zone. The study suggests the validity of ultrasound, in particularly transrectal ultrasound, in the identification of non palpable prostatic cancer. In conclusion ultrasound appears very useful in the preoperative evaluation of the patients affected by BPH in order to identify neoplasms non detectable with other methods.

The authors report their experience in a screening program for congenital hip dislocation. Goal of this study is to recognize the best technique for early diagnosis in this disease. The result show that we need further study and complete cooperation between pediatrician, radiologist and orthopedist to realize the best cost/benefit ratio.

The role of ultrasound on paediatric renal tract investigation has become established over the last 15 years, showing only with nuclear magnetic imaging the merit of being truly, non invasive and almost certainly free from biological hazards. The information obtained remains mainly static rather than dynamic, anatomical rather than functional. Conversely radioisotopic methods allow functional studies, mainly in cases in which separate functional are requested. Recently some Authors claimed that these two techniques could replace conventional x-ray investigations. Aim of this paper is to report the results of these techniques separately applied in urinary tract abnormalities in pediatric age. Reliability and utility in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic approach are discussed.

A seven years old boy presented with gross hematuria associated with clots and transitory renal insufficiency. The urinary sediment showed only monomorphic red blood cells. Subsequently urinary sediment completely modified: namely only dysmorphic red blood cells and hyaline granular casts were found and within a week renal function become normal. The clinical diagnosis of Berger's disease was possible only with renal biopsy.

The authors report a case of tibial-tarsal septic arthritis caused by a Group A Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus. The primitive pathologic process was an erysipelas with an unusual localization originally of difficult interpretation.

Originally described in 1955, papular acrodermatitis is considered a rare disease whose manifestations are mainly cutaneous. The disease is characteristically associated to a non icteric hepatitis with B serologic tests positive. We recently observed a case whose etiology is unusual and, therefore, in our opinion worth of a brief description.

The authors report a case of "dense deposits" glomerulonephritis in a girl who showed the first symptoms of asintomatic microhematuria at the age of 3 years during an ambulatorial examination which had been requested from her family doctor. After 1 year and 10 months the girl has been hospitalized and during her stay in the hospital it appeared that she still suffered of microhematuria with very low levels of serum complement. Being these results the same after the various check-ups made after her dismission from the hospital it has been decided to execute a renal biopsy, comprehending also the examination with an electronic microscopy which showed intramembranous "dense deposits" glomerulonephritis. In literature no similar cases under 4 years of age are reported.