What Are The Treatments For Prostatic Hyperplasia?
Hyperplasia of the prostate is a very common condition in middle-aged men. It is necessary to differentiate whether it is benign or malignant at the time of diagnosis in order to establish an adequate treatment.
Prostate hyperplasia is the medical term that refers to an increase in the size of the prostate in men above normal values.
It is very important to differentiate whether it is a benign hyperplasia, that is, when the gland has only developed and there is no impairment of its function, except the possible compression that this organ can exert on other structures. On the contrary, malignant prostatic hyperplasia refers to carcinoma in situ .
In addition, the age of the patient is a key factor to take into account. This is because the size of the prostate is not always the same. It is said that after 40 years, the gland grows in size.
For this reason, any man over this age who has symptoms of compression of the prostate should go to the doctor to confirm that it is hyperplasia and study it thoroughly.
What are the signs and symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia?
There are a number of signs and symptoms common to all prostatic hyperplasia. However, when it comes to a malignant pathology like prostate cancer, there are peculiarities that make it possible to speed up its diagnosis, and that is why we will see them in the next section.
In the hospital setting, it is not possible to know whether it is a mild or malignant disease from the patient’s history and physical examination. Additional tests should always be performed to confirm the nature of the hyperplasia. However, the most common symptomatology is as follows :
- Pain when urinating
- Inability to urinate
- Presence of blood in the urine : this sign is called hematuria
- Need to urinate very often and in small amounts (most often at night)
- Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination
- Irregular flow of urine during urination, with interruptions or drip phenomenon.
- Sense of urgency to urinate
These signs and symptoms can be confused with those of a urinary tract infection. That is why it is so important to go to the medical center for consultation, regardless of the pathology.
How is prostatic hyperplasia diagnosed?
First of all, the patient’s symptoms and medical history should be taken into account. As we said before, if it is a middle-aged man, prostate cancer should be screened for.
This is especially relevant if there is a personal or family history of prostate cancer or any other type of cancer. A complete physical exam, including a digital rectal exam, should then be done. Various abnormalities in the size of the prostate can be seen during the examination.
There is a simple test to make the diagnosis: the prostate specific antigen (also known by the acronym ASP). This substance is a marker that can be obtained during a blood test. This way we avoid subjecting the patient to more uncomfortable or costly tests if not necessary.
It may also be accompanied by an imaging test. The first option is always the use of ultrasound during ultrasound. Other imaging tests may provide better resolution. However, since the genital area is involved, radiation can be emitted which affects a man’s fertility. This is why ultrasound is preferable.
How is prostatic hyperplasia treated?
The treatment of this pathology depends on the nature of the hyperplasia. In the case of a benign process, it is simply necessary to correct the compression that the prostate exerts on other structures, since the symptoms frequently affect the psychological state of the patient.
Urinary incontinence in middle-aged men is one of the most common reasons for urology visits. This can be corrected with medication in the early stages.
On the other hand, if the size of the gland is important, one can consider a surgical resection to remove the excess tissue. Another option is to widen the urethra to facilitate urination or laser surgery. However, resection surgery is the most common option because it is easy to perform and provides good results.
If it is a malignant hyperplasia, it is necessary to study the patient in more detail in order to take biopsies, see what type of cancer it is, at what stage it is, look for metastases in other regions (usually with bone damage), etc. It is often necessary to refer the patient to an adjuvant oncology study.
