The QUIBUS study offers some insights into the current diagnosis and treatment of LUTS suggestive of BPH in Italy. As diagnosis is concerned, uroflowmetry and PSA testing were performed in a high percentage of cases (64 and 89%, respectively). Both transrectal ultrasonography and prostate biopsy were more frequent for increasing values of PSA, this suggesting that are used as screening procedures for prostate cancer. However, transrectal ultrasonography was performed overall in a large proportion of patients (61%), representing a routine examination in some centers. As treatment is concerned, the majority of QUIBUS patients had undergone or were undergoing medical therapy. Alphalytics were the drugs most commonly prescribed by urologists while primary care physicians showed the attitude to prescribe more frequently finasteride. On the surgical side, transurethral prostatectomy and open surgery were the most commonly employed procedures, suggesting that little room is left at present to minimally invasive procedures in Italy.
Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel