Purpose: This prospective, controlled clinical study aimed to assess the diagnostic values of detrusor wall thickness (DWT), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), and prostate volume in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Materials and methods: During an 18-month period, a total of 243 males were included in the study. Three groups were assessed due to their International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS): men with normal lower urinary tracts (n = 51; control group), men with mild LUTS (n = 60; Group 1), and men with moderate to severe LUTS (n = 132; Group 2). DWT, bladder, and prostate volumes and PVR were measured by suprapubic ultrasonography. DWT was measured when the bladder was full (DWT-1) and when it was empty (DWT-2).
Results: The mean age for the study population was 60.0 ± 0.6 years, while the mean IPSS for the whole group was 8.0 ± 0.4. Both the bladder and prostate volumes in Group 2 were statistically significantly higher than the control group and Group 1. The mean DWT-1 values were significantly lower in the control group when compared to Groups 1 and 2. However, when study groups were compared with each other, no statistical significance was noticed (1.12 vs. 1.17 mm). In contrast, the mean PVR and DWT-2 values were significantly different in each group. There was a significant correlation between IPSS questionnaire results and all individual parameters.
Conclusion: Suprapubic transabdominal ultrasonographic assessment of the lower urinary tract in a noninvasive manner allows the clinician to assess LUTS severity in men without morbidity. Additional studies are necessary to provide further conclusions regarding this clinical procedure.