Is there any Relationship between Total Prostate Volume, Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Adult Nigerian Men with Benign Prostatic Enlargement?

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in men. The enlarging prostate gland resulting from proliferation of fibro-glandular tissue within the transitional zone is responsible for the associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is a validated symptom scoring tool for assessing severity of LUTS, while the prostate volume is use in BPH treatment guidelines.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationships between total prostate volume (TPV), intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) and the severity of LUTS measured with the IPSS in patients with BPE.

METHODS

This was a prospective study carried out on patients who presented at the out-patient unit with LUTS from BPE. They all completed the IPSS form and had digital rectal examination (DRE). Total prostate volume was measured using ultrasound scan: trans-rectal probe for TPV and transabdominal probe for IPP. The data was then analyzed using SPSS version 17.

RESULTS

145 patients between ages 49 to 93 years participated in the study. The 60-69year group had the highest frequency, 61(42.07%). Mean TPV and IPP were 82.33 ± 55.06ml and 9.80 ± 0.641mm respectively. Mean IPSS was 23.27 ± 7.18 and QoL score 4.76 ± 1.41. TPV had no linear correlation with IPSS (p=0.044; r=0.07), while IPP had a moderate linear correlation IPSS (p = 0.001, r = +0.576).

CONCLUSION

IPP in patients with BPE seems to be a better predictor of severity of LUTS assessed by IPSS than TPV.