Prostatitis: epidemiology of inflammation.

Approximately 8 million prostatitis-related outpatient visits per year have been reported worldwide. Only a small percentage presents with bacterial prostatitis. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome/prostatodynia is a frustrating disease for patients and caregivers. This paper is an attempt to analyze causes and types of inflammation and to determine if inflammation may have an impact on treatment and outcome. Is inflammation even a relevant factor in the diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome? Do we need to begin to look for different factors involved in the development of this often crippling disease?