BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY

By age 75, between 10 and 25 percent of men require intervention for problems caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy. Symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction include hesitancy, terminal dribbling, postvoid fullness and double voiding. Symptoms of bladder irritability include frequency, urgency, dysuria and nocturia. Urinary retention, hydronephrosis, azotemia and worsening obstructive symptoms are indications for treatment. In addition to catheter drainage or surgical resection, new treatment options include the use of alpha-adrenergic blockers and antiandrogens, as well as balloon dilatation of the prostate. Transurethral resection of the prostate remains the mainstay of treatment, providing effective relief in 85 percent of patients. Since only the enlarged portion of the prostate is removed, prostatic cancer or recurrence of benign prostatic hypertrophy is possible.