Complications and limitations related to periprostatic local anesthesia before TRUS-guided prostate biopsy

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of complications specifically related to local anesthetic infiltration prior to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. METHODS: A total of 200 patients receiving 10 cm(3) (5 cm(3) on each side) of 2% lidocaine injected around the periprostatic nerve plexus under TRUS guidance before prostate biopsy were included. Various complications presumed to be associated with local anesthesia were noted during and after the biopsy procedure. Two weeks later, periprostatic tissue integrity and vascularization were re-examined with TRUS Doppler examination to assess for fibrosis or infection. RESULTS: The most common finding was pain due to puncture with the needle used for local anesthesia (27%). Also recorded were the need for repeated injections during the biopsy procedure (4.5%), symptoms associated with systemic lidocaine toxicity (2%), urinary incontinence (1.5%), and degradation of the image resolution due to anesthetic injection (1%). Increased vascularization within the periprostatic region was uncommon (2%) on the 2-week follow-up examination. No TRUS finding consistent with rectal wall hematoma or other periprostatic change and no erectile dysfunction associated with the procedure occurred. There was a significant difference in overall pain scores between the subgroups of patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TRUS-guided periprostatic nerve blockade is an effective method for relieving discomfort from prostate biopsy with very few complications.     

帕金森病伴排尿功能障碍特点及临床处理体会(附62例分析)

【目的】探讨帕金森病(PD)患者的排尿功能紊乱的治疗。【方法】分析临床PD合并排尿功能障碍患者共62名,其中55例出现急、慢性尿潴留者,均行尿流动力学检查,根据病情及部分尿流动力学检查结果,采取不同治疗方法。【结果】留置尿管患者24例,其中拔除尿管后经口服α1-受体阻滞剂坦索罗辛可逐渐恢复自行排尿者17例,7例不能自行排尿患者采取清洁间歇性自家导尿术;经尿道前列腺汽化电切15例,耻骨上膀胱穿刺造瘘术13例;采用外部集尿器方法10例。【结论】排尿功能紊乱是PD患者常见并发症,其治疗措施应根据病人的具体情况而定;老年男性帕金森病患者排尿障碍症状须警惕前列腺增生合并的出口梗阻。     

Transurethral resection of the prostate: failure patterns and surgical outcomes in patients with symptoms refractory to alpha-antagonists

BACKGROUND: alpha-Antagonists (AAs) are ineffective in some men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) may be required. Reasons for AA failure and surgical outcomes in these patients have not been reported. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cases of TURP for LUTS due to bladder outlet obstruction from 1995 to 1998. The TURP patients in whom AA therapy had failed (group 1) were compared with those who had symptomatic BPH but were not taking AAs (group 2). Comorbid conditions that might influence treatment results were considered, as were sizes of resection and pathologic results. RESULTS: No differences occurred between groups 1 (n = 38) and 2 (n = 25) in age, length of postoperative follow-up, or resection size. However, outcomes were poorer in group 1 than in group 2. A trend toward greater comorbidity that might lead to voiding dysfunction, though not statistically significant, was seen in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative results of TURP may be less successful after AA therapy failure. This may be due to preoperative risk factors that affect voiding function rather than to prostatic size.     

经直肠彩色多普勒超声在评价前列腺良性增生患者下尿路梗阻程度中的作用

目的探讨前列腺动脉血流阻力指数(RI)能否反映前列腺增生有下尿路梗阻症状患者的梗阻严重程度。方法对48例有下尿路梗阻症状的前列腺增生患者行经直肠彩色多普勒超声检查,检测前列腺被膜支动脉、尿道支动脉血流阻力指数(RI)及最大尿流率、国际前列腺症状评分(IPSS)、前列腺体积、移行区体积、移行区指数,并对被膜支动脉、尿道支动脉血流RI与其他检测参数行Pearson相关分析。结果前列腺被膜支动脉血流RI与前列腺体积、移行区体积、移行区指数、IPSS均呈正相关(r=0.30、0.31、0.31、0.38,P<0.05),与最大尿流率呈负相关(r=-0.34,P<0.05);而尿道支动脉血流RI与上述参数无明显相关性(P>0.05)。结论前列腺被膜支动脉血流RI可反映前列腺增生患者下尿路梗阻严重程度。     

Four-dimensional ultrasonography for dynamic bladder shape visualization and analysis during voiding.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe initial applications of 4-dimensional ultrasonography (4DUS) for visualizing dynamic change in 3-dimensional (3D) bladder shape as well as for analyzing intravesical volume and diameters during voiding. METHODS: In 15 healthy volunteers and 5 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, 4DUS images of the bladder during voiding were obtained by transabdominal 4DUS and compared with the outcome of uroflowmetry. Changes of intravesical volume as well as diameters in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes were measured and analyzed in comparison with uroflow data. RESULTS: Dynamic 3D visualization of the bladder shape was feasible in all 20 men. Multiplanar display of 4DUS showed dynamic 3D images of the bladder during voiding to be simultaneously visualized in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. The change and decrease rate in intravesical volume calculated by 4DUS data had significant correlation with the average flow rate (P = .02) and the maximum flow rate (P = .04), respectively. Among the 3 diameters, the change of coronal diameter was significantly most correlated with change of the intravesical volume (P < .0001). The change in coronal diameter, which was observed in patients with urinary disturbance, had a significant difference compared with those observed in control subjects (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of voiding with 4DUS was feasible in healthy men and patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Four-dimensional ultrasonography has the potential to be a novel noninvasive urodynamic modality to visualize dynamically the lower urinary tract during voiding and to improve pathophysiologic understanding of voiding.     

Diagnostic value of International Prostate Symptom Score voiding-to-storage subscore ratio in male lower urinary tract symptoms

Aims: To investigate the diagnostic value of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) voiding‐to‐storage subscore ratio (IPSS‐V/S) in male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: A total of 253 men with LUTS were enrolled from January 2005 to July 2010. The voiding (IPSS‐V) and storage IPSS (IPSS‐S) subscores were recorded separately by the patients themselves. The IPSS‐V/S was calculated and compared among various aetiologies based on videourodynamic studies. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed for comparing the diagnostic value of various non‐invasive methods for predicting failure to voiding and storage lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Results: Patients with failure to voiding LUTD, including benign prostatic obstruction (n = 72), bladder neck dysfunction (n = 19), urethral stricture (n = 3) and poor relaxation of the urethral sphincter (n = 32), had mean IPSS‐V/S scores > 1. In contrast, patients who were urodynamically normal (n = 2) or had failure to storage LUTD, including idiopathic detrusor overactivity (n = 84), increased bladder sensation (n = 37), and detrusor overactivity and impaired contractility (n = 4), had IPSS‐V/S scores ≤ 1. When IPSS‐V/S was used to differentiate male LUTS, failure to voiding LUTD was found in 81.2% of patients with IPSS scores > 1, while failure to storage LUTD was found in 75.7% of patients with IPSS‐V/S ≤ 1. The area under ROC curve of IPSS‐V/S was higher than for other non‐invasive methods for predicting failure to voiding and storage LUTD. Conclusion: Measuring IPSS subscores and calculating IPSS‐V/S is a simple and useful method to differentiate failure to voiding and failure to storage LUTD in men with LUTS. IPSS‐V/S may provide a guide for the initial treatment, especially for primary care physicians without access to urological studies.     

Symptom indexes to assess outcomes of treatment for early prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Patients' perceptions of treatment outcomes are important in the management of early prostate cancer, but few studies have offered reliable and responsive measures to assess the likely side effects of the most common treatments. OBJECTIVE: To develop indexes of urinary, bowel, and sexual function, and related distress. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of the outcomes of treatment for early prostate cancer, with self-administered questionnaires completed before treatment, and 3 and 12 months afterward. Hypothesized indexes, based on a clinical model of pathophysiological side effects of treatment, were defined and evaluated with respect to reliability and validity. SUBJECTS: Patients (n = 184) undergoing radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy for early prostate cancer. MEASURES: Urinary and bowel items pertained to frequency or intensity of symptoms of dysfunction; parallel items assessed symptom-related distress. Sexual dysfunction items assessed the quality of erections, orgasm, and ejaculation; distress was assessed by 2 items adapted from the MOS Sexual Problems (MOS-SP) scale. HRQoL was assessed by the SF-36 and Profile of Mood States. RESULTS: Symptom and symptom-related distress indexes for urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction/irritation, bowel dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction were defined. Symptom and distress indexes in each domain were highly correlated. Responsiveness was substantial and varied by treatment in ways consistent with clinical experience. The indexes accounted for significant proportions of the variance in HRQoL measures. CONCLUSIONS: These indexes may be used in monitoring outcomes of treatment for early prostate cancer.     

Introital and perineal sonography in diagnosing stress urinary incontinence - possible clinical applications

Urogynecological ultrasound as a part of the diagnostic work-up of stress urinary incontinence enables the morphologic and dynamic assessment of the lower urinary tract and has replaced radiography in the primary diagnostic work-up of stress urinary incontinence. It is possible to classify the sonographically identified changes of the endopelvic fascia, whereby any dynamic changes must be interpreted in context with the clinical findings. Stress urinary incontinence, besides voiding dysfunction, recurrent urinary tract infections and dyspareunia, may be associated with urethral diverticula, which can be detected by ultrasound. Postoperative voiding problems, de novo urgency or recurrent urinary tract infections can be assessed by demonstrating possible causes, such as haematomas, overcorrection with postvoid residual, misplacement of the tape at the level of the bladder neck or intravesical displacement of suture or tape material. Introital and perineal ultrasound might also be used for monitoring the proper placement of sutures to reduce postoperative complications.     

Functional urinary outlet obstruction causing urosepsis in a male multiple sclerosis patient.

Detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD) is a neuropathic disorder of micturition that exists when the simultaneous contractions of the detrusor muscle and external urethral sphincter oppose each other. When the external urethral sphincter contracts during a detrusor contraction, functional urinary outflow obstruction occurs by the increased urethral resistance. This loss of coordination between the bladder and its outlet is associated with a high risk for serious urologic complications, such as vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis, and urosepsis. This report describes a male multiple sclerosis patient with DESD who developed functional outlet obstruction with urosepsis and discusses the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially life-threatening voiding dysfunction.     

Vector Flow Visualization of Urinary Flow Dynamics in a Bladder Outlet Obstruction Model

Voiding dysfunction that results from bladder outlet (BO) obstruction is known to alter significantly the dynamics of urine passage through the urinary tract. To non-invasively image this phenomenon on a time-resolved basis, we pursued the first application of a recently developed flow visualization technique called vector projectile imaging (VPI) that can track the spatiotemporal dynamics of flow vector fields at a frame rate of 10,000 fps (based on plane wave excitation and least-squares Doppler vector estimation principles). For this investigation, we designed a new anthropomorphic urethral tract phantom to reconstruct urinary flow dynamics under controlled conditions (300 mm H₂O inlet pressure and atmospheric outlet pressure). Both a normal model and a diseased model with BO obstruction were developed for experimentation. VPI cine loops were derived from these urinary flow phantoms. Results show that VPI is capable of depicting differences in the flow dynamics of normal and diseased urinary tracts. In the case with BO obstruction, VPI depicted the presence of BO flow jet and vortices in the prostatic urethra. The corresponding spatial-maximum flow velocity magnitude was estimated to be 2.43 m/s, and it is significantly faster than that for the normal model (1.52 m/s) and is in line with values derived from computational fluid dynamics simulations. Overall, this investigation demonstrates the feasibility of using vector flow visualization techniques to non-invasively examine internal flow characteristics related to voiding dysfunction in the urethral tract.     

Therapeutic designing for urethral obstruction by virtual urethra and flow dynamics simulation

Introduction: Transurethral surgery is widely accepted as standard therapy for male urethral obstruction. The present study was undertaken to identify and select lesions to be managed by processing endoscopic images of the urethra for assisting less invasive therapy in patients with voiding dysfunction. Material and methods: Cystourethroscopic video files of 25 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were recorded before and after administration of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists. Each video frame was restored and tagged with information indicating the position in the panoramic image of the urethra. A three-dimensional virtual urethra was created to indicate critical lesions for voiding dysfunction, together with fluid dynamics simulation of urine flow. Results: The urine stream was depicted in the virtual urethras in 19 patients. Before therapy, 17 patients showed vortex formation that was diminished after therapy in nine patients with a significant relationship in improvement of relative energy loss of flow (p=0.025). The narrowing points proximal to the vortex, candidate of lesions, were identified in the panoramic image and linked to the endoscopic image. Discussion: Therapeutic designing for endoscopic management was possible in patients with voiding dysfunction based on computational fluid dynamics, and would be promising as “focal” therapy for aging males.     

Transformation of mitral valve prolapse to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and back again in a patient with acute transient myocardial depression.

We describe an unusual case of transient resolution of preexisting mitral valve (MV) prolapse during acute cardiac dysfunction and the development of dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction. The patient presented with lightheadedness, chest pain, and compromised hemodynamic status. Echocardiography revealed akinesis and deformation of the LV anterior wall and apex, hyperdynamic activity in the bases, anterior MV leaflet systolic anterior motion without prolapse, and a dynamic outflow tract gradient. Myocardial function fully recovered over 1 month. Repeat ultrasonography showed posterior MV leaflet prolapse and no anterior MV leaflet systolic anterior motion. Elongated MV leaflets may have contributed to dynamic outflow tract obstruction and life-threatening hemodynamic compromise during LV conformational change.     

骶神经电刺激治疗顽固性排尿功能障碍

目的观察骶神经电刺激(sacral nerve stimulafion,SNS)治疗顽固性排尿功能障碍的临床效果.方法对1例确诊为顽固性排尿功能患者行骶3孔神经电刺激治疗.结果电刺激治疗8 d后及拔除电极后第1,4,8周,B超测定剩余尿量为0,尿失禁、尿频、尿急等临床症状均明显改善,每次排尿量正常.结论骶神经电刺激能有效地治疗顽固性排尿功能障碍.     

Prostate segmentation in transrectal ultrasound using magnetic resonance imaging priors

Purpose

In the current standard of care, real-time transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is commonly used for prostate brachytherapy guidance. As TRUS provides limited soft tissue contrast, segmenting the prostate gland in TRUS images is often challenging and subject to inter-observer and intra-observer variability, especially at the base and apex where the gland boundary is hard to define. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has higher soft tissue contrast allowing the prostate to be contoured easily. In this paper, we aim to show that prostate segmentation in TRUS images informed by MRI priors can improve on prostate segmentation that relies only on TRUS images.

Methods

First, we compare the TRUS-based prostate segmentation used in the treatment of 598 patients with a high-quality MRI prostate atlas and observe inconsistencies at the apex and base. Second, motivated by this finding, we propose an alternative TRUS segmentation technique that is fully automatic and uses MRI priors. The algorithm uses a convolutional neural network to segment the prostate in TRUS images at mid-gland, where the gland boundary can be clearly seen. It then reconstructs the gland boundary at the apex and base with the aid of a statistical shape model built from an MRI atlas of 78 patients.

Results

Compared to the clinical TRUS segmentation, our method achieves similar mid-gland segmentation results in the 598-patient database. For the seven patients who had both TRUS and MRI, our method achieved more accurate segmentation of the base and apex with the MRI segmentation used as ground truth.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that utilizing MRI priors in TRUS prostate segmentation could potentially improve the performance at base and apex.

     

经直肠多模态超声影像评分系统诊断前列腺癌的临床研究

目的建立前列腺癌多模态超声影像评分系统,并评价该评分系统对前列腺癌的诊断价值。 方法选取2016年5月至2017年12月在解放军总医院行超声引导下穿刺活检和（或）手术切除的86例可疑前列腺癌患者,术前对前列腺行经直肠常规超声、剪切波弹性成像、超声造影检查,分析三种模态超声影像特征,并与手术或穿刺病理进行对照。总结前列腺癌经直肠多模态超声影像特征,建立评分系统,并评价该系统对前列腺癌的诊断价值。 结果前列腺癌常规超声表现为低回声、边界不清、形态不规则、内外腺分界不清、包膜侵犯、血流信号丰富且为中心血流;剪切波弹性成像表现为非对称分布,前列腺癌病灶平均弹性模量高于良性病灶［（94.7±44.2）kPa vs（60.8±26.0）kPa］,差异有统计学意义（t=-3.578,P=0.001）;超声造影表现为快速高增强,分布不均匀（低增强区伴点状血管结构,点状、片状或结节状高增强）,内外腺分界不清,包膜或直肠壁侵犯。常规超声、超声造影、弹性成像有1项阳性即诊断为前列腺癌,其敏感度、阴性预测值和准确性分别为98.0%、96.7%和89.5%;三者均为阳性诊断为前列腺癌,其特异度和阳性预测值分别为97.3%和97.1%。 结论经直肠多模态超声影像评分系统可提高超声对前列腺癌的诊断价值。     

Seminal vesicle masses detected incidentally during transrectal sonographic examination of the prostate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to review the incidence and type of seminal vesicle (SV) masses discovered during transrectal sonography (TRUS) of the prostate. METHODS: Patients were a consecutive series of men referred for TRUS of the prostate because of lower urinary tract symptoms or elevated prostate-specific antigen levels, who were found on TRUS to have SV masses. Patients with prostate cancer involving the SVs were excluded. Cystic lesions were sampled by fine-needle aspiration and solid lesions by core biopsy, all under sonographic guidance. RESULTS: Of the 450 patients who underwent TRUS between January 1997 and December 2001, 10 (2%) were found to have SV masses; 5 masses were cystic and 5 were solid. Cytologic evaluation of aspirated specimens revealed benign findings in all 5 cysts. Four of the 5 patients with solid SV masses had chronic schistosomiasis, and the mass in the fifth patient was a metastatic deposit from a renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: SV masses may be responsible for lower urinary tract symptoms in a small fraction of cases. A cystic mass is presumptively benign, whereas a solid lesion has a small probability of being malignant, especially if the patient has a primary neoplasm elsewhere. Schistosomiasis should always be considered when making a differential diagnosis in patients who live in areas where infestation is endemic.     

Conventional monopolar resection or bipolar resection in saline for the management of large (>60 g) benign prostatic hyperplasia: An evaluation of morbidity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURIS) and conventional monopolar transurethral resection (TURP) in men with voiding difficulties due to high volume (>60g) benign prostatic hyperplasia. Between May 2005 and January 2009, 66 men with bladder outlet obstruction due to large benign hyperplasia (BPH) (>60 g) underwent transurethral resection, either by Olympus monopolar or Olympus bipolar TURIS technique. Perioperative and outcome data were recorded and compared. There was no significant difference in patient age, prostate size, PSA, uroflow rate, post voiding residual urine, operation time, catheterization time, and hospital stay. In the monopolar TURP group, an important drop in serum sodium was observed (3.12 mmol/L), statistically significantly different (p = 0.012) from the 1.30 mmol/L drop in the bipolar TURIS group. One case of clinical TUR syndrome was observed in the conventional monopolar TURP group. Early and late complications such as clot retention, urinary retention, bladder neck stenosis, and urethral stricture were identical in both groups. The bipolar TURIS device is a valid treatment option for patients with BPH-related voiding disorders due to high volume BPH. Obviating the risk of TUR syndrome, this minimally invasive procedure may be a good surgical option in the urologist's armamentarium.     

Work-up of urinary tract infection in infants and children

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants and children demands rapid differentiation between upper UTI (pyelonephritis) and lower UTI (cystitis) for prompt treatment to be initiated so that renal damage is minimized. This pictorial review presents a wide gamut of structural and functional abnormalities of the urinary tract that may predispose infants and children to UTI, including vesicoureteral reflux, upper urinary tract obstruction (ureteropelvic junction obstruction), lower urinary tract obstruction (primary megaureter, ureterovesical junction obstruction, posterior urethral valve, ectopic ureterocele with or without associated duplex collecting system), neurogenic problems (dysfunctional voiding), calculi, and parenchymal scars. Sonography (ultrasound [US]) is the imaging modality of choice for assessment of renal size, growth (serial sonograms), texture, and blood flow. Other modalities used to work-up UTI in the pediatric patient include fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrogram, nuclear voiding cystourethrogram, and nuclear renal scintigraphy (NRS). Excretory urography is no longer recommended in the routine evaluation of childhood UTI because information regarding anatomy and function (qualitative and quantitative) can be better assessed with US and NRS, respectively. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are primarily reserved for complex cases in which a definitive diagnosis cannot be made with routine imaging. Algorithms for work-up of UTI in various pediatric age groups are presented.     

超声、磁共振动态增强扫描联合PSA检测在前列腺肿瘤良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用

目的 观察经直肠超声（TRUS）、磁共振动态增强扫描（DCE-MRI）联合血清前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）检测在前列腺肿瘤良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法 选取2019年1月～2022年10月我院收治的前列腺肿瘤患者102例,对所有入选患者行TRUS及DCE-MRI检查,以穿刺活检诊断结果为金标准,观察良恶性前列腺肿瘤患者的血清PSA水平,并比较TRUS、DCEMRI、PSA以及三者联合诊断对前列腺肿瘤良恶性鉴别的价值。结果 102例前列腺肿瘤患者中,经穿刺活检发现38例为恶性肿瘤,64例为良性肿瘤。采用TRUS鉴别前列腺肿瘤良恶性的敏感度、特异性及准确性分别为63.16%、76.56%及71.57%,DCEMRI检查为73.68%、78.13%及76.47%,PSA检测为89.47%、70.31%及76.47%,且经穿刺活检诊断为恶性前列腺肿瘤的患者,PSA水平及DCE-MRI检查参数值均高于良性肿瘤患者（P<0.05）。三者联合检测的敏感度及准确性分别为97.37%、88.24%,高于单一检查方法（P<0.05）。结论 恶性前列腺肿瘤患者与良性患者相比,其血清PSA水平更...     

Role of transrectal ultrasonography in the prediction of prostate cancer: artificial neural network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an artificial neural network (ANN) model with and without transrectal ultrasonographic (TRUS) data. METHODS: Six hundred eighty-four consecutive patients who had undergone TRUS-guided prostate biopsy from May 2003 to January 2005 were enrolled. We constructed 2 ANN models. One (ANN_1) incorporated patient age, digital rectal examination findings, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA density, transitional zone volume, and PSA density in the transitional zone as input data, whereas the other (ANN_2) was constructed with the above and TRUS findings as input data. The performances of these 2 ANN models according to PSA levels (group A, 0-4 ng/mL; group B, 4-10 ng/mL; and group C, >10 ng/mL) were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Of the 684 patients who underwent prostate biopsy, 214 (31.3%) were confirmed to have prostate cancer; of 137 patients with positive digital rectal examination results, 60 (43.8%) were confirmed to have prostate cancer; and of 131 patients with positive TRUS findings, 93 (71%) were confirmed to have prostate cancer. In groups A, B, and C, the AUCs for ANN_1 were 0.738, 0.753, and 0.774, respectively; the AUCs for ANN_2 were 0.859, 0.797, and 0.894. In all groups, ANN_2 showed better accuracy than ANN_1 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, ANN with TRUS findings was found to be more accurate than ANN without. We conclude that TRUS findings should be included as an input data component in ANN models used to diagnose prostate cancer.