Benign Prostate Disorders Flashcards
Sexual accessory glands
○ Prostate
○ Seminal vesicles
○ Vas Deferens
○ Bulbourethral gland
Principle function of the prostate and
related accessory organs is ______
production of the various components of semen for sexual reproduction.
Prostate - Most Common Disorders
★ Prostatitis
★ Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
★ Prostate Adenocarcinoma
(included in the neoplasm lecture)
Prostatitis
● Bacterial infection in the small ductwork of the prostate gland
○ Typical uropathogens: E. Coli, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, etc
○ Rarely can be from Gonorrhea / Chlamyida
Prostatitis - Pathophysiology
● Typically interstitial, affecting the whole gland
● Rarely presents as focal abscess
● Poorly defined or understood chronic pain / Inflammatory issues often grouped
as chronic prostatitis
Prostatitis - Clinical Presentation
● Clinical diagnosis primarily
● Perineal / pelvic pain
○ May radiate to the rectum, scrotum, groin, sacrum, lower back
● Obstructive voiding symptoms
○ Weak stream, hesitancy, intermittent stream, feeling of incomplete emptying, terminal dribbling, dysuria
● Constitutional symptoms (fever, chills, nausea, vomiting) may occur
Prostatitis - Acute vs. Chronic
● Acute Bacterial
○ Typical presentation, often developing rapidly and severely
○ Tender, boggy prostate on DRE
○ Often find leukocytosis on UA, but not always. Urine culture may or may not be positive
● Chronic (>3 months)
○ Can be hard to clearly identify as
bacterial or inflammatory
○ Typical presentation, but gradual onset
and muted / poorly defined symptoms
○ Commonly will have normal DRE, UA
and urine culture
Prostatitis - Management for Acute bacterial prostatitis
○ Poor tissue penetrance of antibiotics in the prostate for most medications
○ Suspected STI, treat according to CDC guidelines for urethritis but consider a prolonged
course to allow for full clearance due to typical bacterial response in the prostate
○ Most of the time, uropathogens will clear with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim DS or
fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin 500 mg BID or levofloxacin 500-750 mg daily)
○ Duration of treatment is typically 10-14 days, depending on severity of symptoms
○ Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin, alfuzosin, etc) are a consideration to help obstructive LUTS
○ Phenazopyridine can help with dysuria symptoms
Prostatitis - Management of Chronic bacterial prostatitis
○ Similar treatment guidelines as Acute, but needs longer courses
○ Can take 4-12 weeks to resolve
○ May need catheterization if related retention
○ Often needs evaluation with Urology for cystoscopy
● Careful using FQ abx for extended
periods of time due to risk of
tendinitis and tendon rupture
Prostatitis - Complications
● Prostate abscess
● Urinary retention
● Urosepsis
BPH - Etiology
● Abnormal growth of prostate after adulthood
● Exclusively a disease of older men
● Unclear exact cause, but several theories
○ Some evidence of alterations to the androgen receptors
in the prostate with age
○ Some evidence of alterations to the apoptotic response
of prostate cells
○ Some evidence of increased sensitivity to the DHT (dihydrotestosterone) receptors in prostate cells,
BPH - Patient History
● Classic symptoms are obstructive LUTS
○ Weak urine stream, hesitancy, straining to void,
intermittent stream, incomplete emptying,
post void dribbling
● Can also include irritative LUTS
○ Frequency, urgency, urge incontinence (UUI),
nocturia, infrequently dysuria
● May have gross hematuria, but not often
● Usually symptoms develop over time
International Prostate
Symptom Score (I-PSS)
Standardized, validated
questionnaire used as frequent
primary endpoint in studies of all
medications / procedures for BPH
BPH - Pathophysiology
Frequency (often associated with urgency and/or UUI) has three main
causes:
○ Bladder empties and fills rapidly (polyuria)
○ Bladder doesn’t hold much anyway (OAB)
○ Bladder doesn’t completely empty
(incomplete bladder emptying)
BPH - Physical Exam / Labs / Imaging
● Not much initial exam necessary, aside from DRE
● Urinalysis (dip or micro) to check for bloody urine
● PSA should be included, especially if
risk factors / age indicate screening anyway
● Bladder scan for post void residual (PVR)
may be helpful if convenient
● Consider BMP to check renal function