The prostate, as it grows, can progressively compress the urethra and, therefore, cause difficulty urinating. This happens because this compression prevents the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra and to the outside. The possible consequences are retention of urine in the bladder or reflux of urine into the kidneys and a need to urinate frequently. If the inflammation is very serious, the urinary system can be completely blocked.
BPH is a very common disease in men: although it usually begins after age 30, it is very rare to manifest before age 40. By age 60, approximately, more than 50% of men suffer from HBP and enter 70 and 80 years up to 90% have some of their symptoms
Some facts about enlarged prostate are:
- The probability of presenting an enlarged prostate increases with age.
- BPH is so common that it has been said that all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough.
- A small degree of enlarged prostate is present in many men over 40 years. More than 90% of men over 80 have this condition.
- No risk factors have been identified in addition to having testicles that function normally.
Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Its symptoms are classified as obstructive (or emptying) and irritative (or filling). Obstructives include hesitation, intermittency, incomplete emptying, weak jet, and post-voiding drip.
The symptoms for which the patient consults more are irritative, and include frequent urination, called nocturia when it occurs at night, and urgency (urge to urinate, when it is not necessary).
BPH can evolve, especially if it is not treated. Incomplete emptying of the bladder can cause a high risk of urinary infection, mainly kidney stones.
The differential diagnosis between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer
- PSA or ASP (Specific Prostate Antigen), is a protein normally produced by prostate cells. If you have a problem in the prostate, such as cancer, enlarged prostate, infection, the PSA value will be high. PSA is measured in a small amount of blood from the arm.
- The digital rectal examination (TR) is used to check if there is suspicion of cancer in the prostate. The doctor palpates the prostate and checks its size and possible anomalies by inserting a finger into the rectum.
- A suspected TR and / or a high PSA value can lead to a prostate biopsy. The biopsy is done to determine if there is cancer in the prostate. The doctor visualizes the prostate using transrectal ultrasound and inserts a needle through the rectum to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate, which are examined microscopically to determine if cancer cells are present.
Rectal touch (TR)
Transrectal ultrasound
The low specificity of the current tests has generated a considerable increase in the number of prostate biopsies, there are statistical data in Mexico about 75% of biopsies are negative.
It is also important to point out that the biopsy of the nodules of the suspicious areas and random areas only allows the detection of cancer in half of the cases since in the early stages it is very common for the biopsies to be negative. In more than 30% of cases it is recommended to repeat the biopsy.
