Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Part 1- diagnosis

Lower urinary tract symptoms are bothersome yet often under-reported by older men. Symptom severity generally progresses over time but is rarely life threatening. Many clinical and lifestyle factors can cause or worsen the symptoms but can be modified by simple interventions. Asking about how bothersome the symptoms are and how they affect the patient’s quality of life is useful for considering whether to suggest additional treatment. Benign prostatic hyperplasia does not increase risk of prostate cancer but is associated with higher levels of prostate specific antigen. These levels are associated with prostate volume and may be useful when combined with symptom and health status measures for assessing potential effectiveness of treatment options
Most men can be assessed and treated by primary care clinicians on the basis of the severity of their symptoms and how bothersome they are. Additional diagnostic evaluations include diaries, uroflowmetry, bladder pressure studies, urinary tract imaging, and urethrocystoscopy.