Accuracy in preoperative estimation of prostatic size. A comparative evaluation of rectal palpation, intravenous pyelography, urethral closure pressure profile recording and cystourethroscopy.

In a prospective study of 75 patients with prostatic hypertrophy a comparison was undertaken of the accuracy in estimates of operative prostatic weight from conventional preoperative investigations. Estimates from rectal digital palpation alone and from intravenous pyelography (prostatic impression, elevation of the bladder base as well as the configuration of distal ureters) were without significant correlation to operative weights, and were not found useful for preoperative estimation of prostatic size. Prostatic length in urethral closure pressure profile measurements as well as the distance from bladder neck to verumontanum and the weight estimated at cystourethroscopy were statistically significantly correlated to operative weights with a coefficient of correlation in the order of 0.5 and were judged useful, although not very precise in the clinical work.