Benign Prostate Disorders

Review
In: Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
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Excerpt

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is among the commonest urological abnormalities affecting the aging male. The cause of the increase in prostatic volume is multifactorial, but current research has implicated hormonal aberrations. Clinical assessment of the patient is integral to determining the optimal treatment strategy. Exclusion of prostatic cancer and complications of BPH are critical prior to the commencement of conservative and non-invasive strategies. Recently, the introduction of pharmaceutical agents has changed the landscape of management of BPH. Alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors provide significant symptomatic improvement for BPH, particularly when used in combination. Invasive surgical therapies remain the gold standard for refractory and complicated BPH disease. Advances in technology have provided new methods to perform prostatectomy including: bipolar resection, laser resection, ablation, enucleation or vaporization. Newer, minimally invasive measures have been introduced in an attempt to limit patient morbidity, specifically operative complications, sexual and urinary function. While results are promising, these emerging therapies have limited long-term data. The purpose of the current chapter is to provide an overview of the current knowledge of benign prostatic hyperplasia. For complete coverage of all related areas of Endocrinology, please visit our on-line FREE web-text, WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG.

Publication types

  • Review