PURPOSE: Pressure flow studies and filling cystometry are currently the standard diagnostic urodynamic tests for lower urinary tract symptoms. A noninvasive ultrasound based method for 2-dimensional monitoring of deformation (or strain) in the detrusor muscle may provide insight into detrusor muscle structural and dynamic properties related to pressure in physiological and disease conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a male patient population with lower urinary tract symptoms, strain in the detrusor muscle (perpendicular to the bladder wall) was estimated based on 2-dimensional radio frequency ultrasound imaging. The estimated strain was correlated to detrusor pressure and urinary flow rate using Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Twenty men (mean +/- SD age 66 +/- 6 years) with lower urinary tract symptoms were included in the study. Ultrasound data acquisition was successful in 13 patients. In 7 patients data acquisition failed due to out-of-plane motion of the bladder wall during voiding or as a result of patient movement during acquisition. The estimated strain correlated positively with detrusor pressure in the 5 patients with an isovolumetric detrusor contraction (Spearman's 0.70-0.99, p