经直肠超声检查在良性前列腺增生梗阻诊断中的价值

目的　分析经直肠超声 (TRUS)测定前列腺相关指标在良性前列腺增生 (BPH)诊断中的价值。　方法　以排尿困难就诊的BPH患者 92例 ,除外影响排尿的其他因素。分别统计患者年龄、病史、国际前列腺症状评分 (IPSS)和血清PSA水平等。应用灰阶TRUS测定前列腺体积、移行带体积并计算移行带指数 (TZI) ;彩色多普勒记录尿道动脉图像 ,测定最大血流 (PK1)、最小血流 (PK2 ) ,并计算阻力指数 (RI)。测定最大尿流率 (Qmax)、最大尿流率时逼尿肌压力 (PdetQmax)并计算AG值 ,AG =PdetQmax- 2Qmax。　结果　相关性分析结果显示TZI(r =0 .80 2 ,P =0 .0 13)、IPSS(r =0 .70 4 ,P =0 .0 2 3)、RI(r=0 .897,P =0 .0 0 4 )与AG显著相关。多元回归分析结果显示TZI、RI为AG的相关因素 (复相关系数R =0 .94 7,决定系数R2 =0 .897,校正决定系数 =0 .793,P =0 .0 0 3) ,RI对AG的影响强度约为TZI的 1.94倍 (0 .770 /0 .397)。除外TZI的影响后 ,RI为AG的独立相关因素 (偏相关系数r =0 .785 ,P =0 .0 0 4 )。若定义AG≥ 4 0时为梗阻性 ,AG <4 0为非梗阻性 ;以RI≥ 0 .75为标准能诊断 93%(5 3/5 7)的梗阻患者 ,排除 91% (32 /35 )的非梗阻患者。　结论　应用多普勒TRUS测定TZI和尿道动脉的RI对BPH梗阻情况有良好的诊断价值。     

良性前列腺增生患者前列腺体积和移行区体积随年龄变化的调查

目的:调查良性前列腺增生(BPH)患者各年龄段前列腺总体积(TPV)、前列腺移行区体积(TZV),计算TZV与TPV的比值即移行区指数(TZI)的数值。分析年龄与上述指标的相关性。方法:经直肠B超测量1 563例BPH患者前列腺和前列腺移行区最大左右径、前后径和上下径,根据公式分别计算出TPV、TZV以及TZI。分析年龄与前列腺体积各参数的相关性。结果:BPH患者各年龄组TPV、TZV和TZI值分别为:50~59岁年龄组TPV(32.27±15.76)ml、TZV(9.55±7.98)ml、TZI 0.28±0.13;60~69岁年龄组TPV(40.93±17.45)ml、TZV(14.94±11.83)ml、TZI 0.34±0.16;70~79岁年龄组TPV(46.56±20.31)ml、TZV(19.54±19.25)ml、TZI 0.39±0.16;80~89岁年龄组TPV(47.85±26.63)ml、TZV(20.40±16.78)ml、TZI 0.41±0.19。BPH患者的TPV、TZV与年龄成显著正相关性(r1=0.232,r2=0.256,P均<0.01),TZV与年龄的相关系数要高于TPV与年龄的相关系数。结论:BPH患者的TPV、TZV值随着年龄的增长而增加,但是TZV增长的幅度要高于TPV增长的幅度,前列腺增生以移行区增生最为显著,并且我国BPH患者的移行区指数与其他人种之间可能存在不同。     

B超测定BPH体积参数评价膀胱出口梗阻的意义

目的 :探讨经直肠超声 (TRUS)测定良性前列腺增生 (BPH)各项体积参数对诊断膀胱出口梗阻 (BOO)的意义。　方法 :BPH病人 116例 ,年龄 5 9～ 75 (6 8.6± 5 .1)岁。应用TRUS测定前列腺各径数值 ,应用公式V =0 .5 2R1R2 R3 计算出前列腺体积各项参数 ,同时行尿动力学检查 ,并计算AG值。将前列腺体积 (PV)、移行带体积 (TZV)、移行带指数(TZI)与病人年龄、国际前列腺症状评分 (IPSS)、前列腺特异性抗原 (PSA)及AG值进行相关性分析。　结果 :PV、TZV及TZI分别为 (6 9.7± 4 5 .9)ml、(43.5± 2 5 .6 )ml和 0 .5 7± 0 .14。最大尿流率 (Qmax)、最大尿流率时逼尿肌压力 (Pdet.Qmax)及AG值分别为 (8.31± 5 .12 )ml/s、(82 .34± 33.4 7)cmH2 O和 6 6 .72± 30 .4 6。IPSS为 2 5 .3± 4 .7,PSA为 (4.12±3.6 4 )ng/ml。相关分析提示TZI(r=0 .74 2 ,P =0 .0 17)、TZV(r =0 .6 74 ,P =0 .0 31)与AG值有显著的相关性。IPSS与TZI、TZV呈正相关 ,PSA浓度与PV、TZV、TZI呈正相关。　结论 :通过TRUS测定BPH的各项体积参数和尿动力学检查一样 ,能够作为判断BOO的参考指标     

Resistance index in benign prostatic hyperplasia using power doppler imaging and clinical outcomes after transurethral vaporization of the prostate

BACKGROUND: Using power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS), we investigate the change of resistance index (RI) before and after transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS: In all, 49 patients underwent transrectal PDUS before receiving TUVP, three were excluded because of cancer and three could not be followed up. The remaining 43 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were assessed before and 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, giving a mean duration of follow-up of 9.1 months. International prostate symptom scores (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) scores, postvoiding residual urine volumes (PVR) and maximum urinary flow rates (Qmax) were evaluated and total prostatic volume (TPV) and RI were measured using PDUS. RESULTS: Resistance index ranged from 0.64 to 0.91. The postoperative parameters except for RI, such as TPV, PVR, IPSS and QOL scores improved significantly at the follow-up assessment after surgery. The elevated RI decreased significantly 1, 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Resistance index significantly decreased after TUVP and IPSS and other urodymamics parameters improved. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that RI could evaluate the severity of BPH and the degree of intraprostatic pressure or bladder outlet obstruction.     

排尿期尿道测压在BPH中的应用价值

目的探讨前列腺增生症（ＢＰＨ）致膀胱流出道梗阻（ＢＯＯ），及其相关问题。方法采用排尿期尿道测压（ＭＵＰＰ）检测４３例ＢＰＨ患者，以压力下降梯度（ＭＵＰＰＧ）计算梗阻程度，同时行膀胱等容收缩试验测最大逼尿肌等容收缩压（Ｐｉｓｏ）；进行国际前列腺症状评分（ＩＰＳＳ），经腹壁Ｂ超测前列腺体积（Ｖ）。结果４３例ＢＰＨ中３８例存在ＢＯＯ（８８％），梗阻位于膀胱颈部２８例（７７％）；ＭＵＰＰＧ与ＩＰＳＳ、Ｖ、Ｐｉｓｏ呈正相关。结论ＭＵＰＰ能检测并计算ＢＯＯ程度；ＢＯＯ是ＢＰＨ的病理基础，临床症状、逼尿肌代偿与其相关。     

良性前列腺增生症规范化治疗方案的多中心临床研究

目的 比较不同种类药物治疗良性前列腺增生（BPH）的疗效与差异,确定不同药物对不同患者的最佳适应证。方法 采用随机平行对照、多中心临床研究方法,对2002年9月至2003年12月906例BPH患者,随机进入选择性α-受体阻滞剂特拉唑嗪、多沙唑嗪、坦索罗辛与萘哌地尔;50α-还原酶抑制剂非那雄胺与爱普列特以及植物制剂舍尼通等7种治疗药物组。每3个月随访一次,国际前列腺症状评分（IPSS）与生活质量评分（QOL）,最大尿流率（Qmax）与平均尿流率（Qave）,前列腺总体积（TPV）与前列腺移行带体积以及残余尿量为观察指标进行疗效评价。根据不同指标基线水平将患者进行分层,比较各治疗组患者主观指标IPSS和客观指标Qmax的改善情况。结果 基线指标分析显示,全组主观指标IPSS评分和客观指标Qmax水平与TPV以及移行带体积呈明显相关性（P〈0．01）。至随访6个月时各类药物均使BPH患者的主观指标IPSS与QOL评分及客观指标Qmax与残余尿量有明显改善。各种药物对主客观指标的影响程度的组间比较显示,对IPSS的改善无显著差异;5α-还原酶抑制剂类药物爱普列特与非那雄胺可以使TPV和移行带体积均明显缩小（P〈0．05）。将患者以前列腺体积〈35．5cm^3和≥35．5cm^3分为两层,在非那雄胺治疗的患者中Qmax平均增加5．7ml／s和2．2ml／s（P〈0．01）,在舍尼通、萘哌地尔及多沙唑嗪治疗组,≥35．5cm^3者症状改善更为明显（P〈0．05）。以IPSS〈20分和≥20分进行分层,各种药物的疗效均在≥20分时更为明显（P〈0．01）。结论 各种药物均可明显改善BPH患者的主、客观症状,各种药物的疗效均对基线IPSS评分较高的患者疗效更为明显。5α-还原酶抑制剂能明显减小前列腺体积,对于前列腺体积≥35．5cm^2者有更为明显的主客观疗效。     

良性前列腺增生症临床症状参数与组织学成分间的相关关系

目的：探讨良性前列腺增生（BPH）临床症状参数与组织学成分间的相关关系。方法：对86例BPH患者的年龄、前列腺体积、国际前列腺症状评分（IPSS）和最大尿流率（Qmax）进行回顾性分析,应用HE染色结合计算机图像分析对前列腺组织构成成分进行形态学定量分析,并与临床参数间进行相关分析。结果：BPH患者年龄与前列腺体积和IPSS呈密切正相关,与Qmax和组织学成分间无显著相关。前列腺体积与IPSS和Qmax间也无相关,但与间质面积和腺腔面积之间密切相关。间质面积和间质／上皮比例分别与IPSS和Qmax之间密切相关。前列腺体积＞30ml者间质面积显著低于前列腺体积≤30ml者,但腺腔面积前者显著高于后者。结论：BPH患者的临床症床参数及组织构成成分之间存在相关性,可为临床药物治疗选择提供依据。     

Association between benign prostatic hyperplasia,body mass index,and metabolic syndrome in Chinese men

Previous studies have showed that men suffering from diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity have a higher risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The present study aimed to examine the association between BPH, obesity, and features of MetS among men of the Hunan area of China. For this cross-sectional study, 904 males (aged 50–59 years) were included. MetS parameters, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, total prostate volume (TPV), postvoid residual volume (PVR) and maximum urine flow rate (Qmax) were measured. Results showed that MetS was associated with TPV (P = 0.048), PVR (P = 0.004) and IPSS (P = 0.011), but not with other indicators of BPH progression such as PSA levels or Qmax. MetS was associated with the voiding symptoms score (P < 0.05), but not with the storage symptom score. In addition, body mass index and fasting blood glucose positively correlated with TPV (r = 0.416, P < 0.001; and r = 0.310, P= 0.011, respectively). In conclusion, results suggest that MetS is associated with higher prostatic volume, prostate symptom score and voiding symptoms, but not with other features of prostatic hyperplasia such as PSA levels or Qmax. Changes in lifestyle factors, including physical activity and prevention of MetS, might be useful to prevent BPH and its progression, but further studies are needed.     

Persistent detrusor overactivity after transurethral resection of the prostate is associated with reduced perfusion of the urinary bladder

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate, in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), how often detrusor overactivity (DOA) is persistent after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and if perfusion of the lower urinary tract influences postoperative outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty men with urodynamically confirmed DOA and bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH had a TURP. Before and 1 year after TURP the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and total prostatic volume (TPV) were evaluated. Also, the lower urinary tract was evaluated using pressure-flow studies and transrectal colour Doppler ultrasonography to assess the vascular resistive index (RI) as a variable of the perfusion of the lower urinary tract. RESULTS: After TURP the IPSS, QoL score, PSA level and TPV decreased. Cystometric measurements showed that in 15 (30%) patients DOA was persistent after TURP. The mean (sd) maximum urinary flow rate increased from 9.20 (4.03) to 15.98 (4.62) mL/s and postvoiding residual urine volumes decreased from 109.38 (73.71) to 29.24 (45.00) mL. When men with persistent DOA (15 patients; group 1) were compared with those with no DOA after TURP (35; group 2) there was a statistically significantly higher RI of the bladder vessels in group 1, at 0.86 (0.068) than in group 2, at 0.68 ( 0.055) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent DOA in men after TURP seems to be associated with increased vascular resistance of the bladder vessels with subsequent reduced perfusion and hypoxia.     

Atherosclerosis as a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and atherosclerosis, using colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and symptom scores. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: CDUS was used to evaluate prostatic vascularity in four groups of men, comprising young healthy subjects, patients presenting with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Resistive index (RI) measurements and computer-assisted quantification of colour pixel density (CPD) were used to objectively evaluate perfusion. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function were used to quantify symptoms. RESULTS: In diabetic patients and men with PAOD, perfusion of the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate was significantly lower (P < 0.001) and the RI of the TZ was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in healthy controls and men with CAD. In diabetics and men with PAOD, the mean prostate volume was greater than in healthy controls and men with CAD. The IPSS in patients with vascular damage (diabetes, PAOD) was significantly worse than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly lower CPD and higher RI values of the TZ in patients with vascular disease than in healthy subjects support the hypothesis that an age-related impairment of blood supply to the prostate has a key role in the development of BPH.     

Role of the Transition Zone for Elevating Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background:
Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have a wide range of concentrations of PSA. However, it is not known what factors influence the concentration of serum PSA other than the prostate volume. BPH is composed of an enlarged transition zone (TZ) and other zones (nonTZ). The TZ is thought to play a more important role than the non TZ in determining the concentration of serum PSA in BPH patients.
Methods:
We investigated the individual glandular zone volume, the amount of PSA produced by each zone and the PSA density in each zone in 23 patients with histologically-confirmed BPH. The PSA density in the TZ was calculated by dividing the difference between the serum PSA before and after surgical resection by the specimen weight. We examined the influence of these parameters on the concentration of serum PSA in BPH patients.
Results:
The serum PSA concentration correlated with the amount of PSA produced by the TZ ( r = 0.90, P< 0.01), but not the nonTZ ( r = 0.25, P = 0.29). The concentration of serum PSA also showed a significant correlation with the TZ volume ( r = 0.67, P<0.01) and the PSA density in the TZ ( r = 0.51, P <0.05), but not with the PSA density in the nonTZ ( r =-0.06, P = 0.81). Also, age was inversely correlated with the PSA density in the TZ ( r =-0.69, P <0.01).
Conclusion:
The hypertrophic prostate cell volume (TZ volume) and activity (PSA density in the TZ) significantly correlated with the concentration of serum PSA in BPH patients, and the TZ cell activity decreased inversely with age in these BPH patients.     

Vascular damage as a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: To assess benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED), both considered to be associated with urogenital ageing, in ageing men in a cross-sectional population study, comparing them with healthy controls by using symptom scores and contrast-enhanced colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS). PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Transrectal CDUS and quantitative measurement of colour pixel intensity (CPI) are excellent minimally invasive techniques for assessing normal and pathological blood flow. CDUS was performed using the microbubble-based ultrasound enhancer for evaluating prostate, bladder neck and corpus cavernosum vascularity in young healthy men, men with BPH, and men with severe vascular damage (diabetes mellitus type 2). Resistive index measurements and computer-assisted quantification of CPI were used to objectively evaluate perfusion. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were applied to quantify the symptoms. RESULTS: In patients with BPH, perfusion of the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate was significantly lower and the resistive index of the TZ significantly higher (both P < 0.001) than in healthy controls. The perfusion patterns of men with BPH and those who also had severe vascular damage (diabetes mellitus type 2) showed that vascularity in the latter group was lower in the prostatic TZ and the corpora cavernosa. In patients with BPH the IPSS, quality-of-life and IIEF scores were significantly worse than in the control group. Men with concomitant atherosclerosis had even worse symptom scores. CONCLUSION: These results strongly support the hypothesis that age-related impairment of blood supply to the lower urinary tract is important in the development of BPH and ED. Vascular damage may cause chronic ischaemia and thus be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of BPH and ED.     

Significant intravesical prostatic protrusion and prostatic calcification predict unfavorable outcomes of medical treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) and prostatic calcification on medical treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Materials and methodsMen over the age of 40 years with total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥ 8 were recruited from January to August 2013. The maximal flow rate, postvoiding residual (PVR) urine volume, total prostate volume (TPV), transitional zone volume (TZV), transitional zone index (TZI), and grades of IPP and prostate calcification were recorded. All patients received α-blocker monotherapy, and Global Response Assessment (GRA) was used to determine treatment response 1 month after the treatment. The primary end point was to compare the treatment results in patients with and without significant IPP or prostate calcification. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether IPP and prostatic calcification are predictors of improved outcome (GRA ≥ 1).ResultsWe enrolled 112 men with a mean age of 65.5 (range, 42–89) years. IPP was significantly positively correlated with TPV, TZV, TZI, and PVR. Prostatic calcification was significantly negatively correlated with total IPSS, IPSS Voiding, and IPSS Storage. After 1-month treatment with α-blockers, the average total IPSS decreased from 18.2 ± 7.4 to 13.1 ± 4.5. Sixty-nine patients (61.6%) reported improved outcomes. Patients with large prostate volumes (TPV ≥ 40 mL) and small prostate volumes (TPV < 40 mL) had similar improved outcome rates (56.5% and 65.1%, respectively). Patients with significant IPP (Grades II and III) had significantly lower improved outcome rates (36.8%) than those without significant IPP (74.3%). Patients with prostatic calcification also had a significantly lower rate of improved outcome (47.9%) than those who did not (71.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that IPP and prostatic calcification are predictors of unfavorable outcome (GRA < 1) after adjusting for age, TPV, and total IPSS.ConclusionSignificant IPP and prostatic calcification are unfavorable predictors of successful α-blocker treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia-induced male LUTS.     

The value of power Doppler imaging to predict the histologic components of benign prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: The response of symptoms caused by benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) to alpha blockade is related to the area density of the smooth muscle of the prostate. If this density could be determined by ultrasound examination, ultrasound might be useful in predicting the efficacy of alpha-blocker therapy. In this study, various ultrasonographic parameters obtained by transrectal method (TRUS) were compared with histologically measured components. METHODS: Before surgery, ultrasonic power Doppler imaging (PDI) of the prostate was performed using a transrectal probe. The volume of total prostate, transition zone (TZ), and the presumed circle area ratio (PCAR) [1,2] were calculated. Pulsatile blood flow was recorded, and the resistive index (RI) was calculated. Based on the serum concentration of total prostate specific antigen (PSA), ratio of PSA to prostate volume (PSAD), and ratio of PSA to TZ (PSAT) were calculated. Prostate tissues were obtained from 26 patients undergoing transurethral resection, suprapubic prostatectomy, or radical cystectomy, and were analyzed by quantitative morphometry. Computer image analysis was used to determine the mean area densities of the smooth muscle (SM), connective tissue (CT), glandular epithelium (GE) and lumen (GL), and vascular lumen (V). Correlations between ultrasonographic parameters and morphometric data were studied. RESULTS: On microscopic examination, the specimens showed a wide variety, ranging from normal prostate to typical glandular hyperplasia. There was a correlation between RI and the ratios of the four components (SM: r = -0.42 P = 0.034; CT: r = -0.42 P = 0.030; GE: r = 0.42 P = 0.032; GL: r = 0.46 P = 0.018). However, correlations between the other five transrectal parameters and the composition of the prostate were not so clear. This may have been because the blood vessels are compressed within the surgical capsule together with the urethra. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that when RI is calculated by PDI, it can be quite useful for predicting component ratios, thereby making it possible to predict the therapeutic efficacy of alpha-blockers in individual patients.     

Hyperinsulinaemia as a risk factor for developing benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity coefficient of the total prostate gland volume as an expression of the transition zone (TZ) volume. To test the hypothesis of hyperinsulinaemia as a causal factor for the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and seven consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were studied. A subgroup of 114 patients were tested with regard to the validity coefficient between the total prostate gland volume and the TZ volume. In the total material of 307 men, a BPH risk factor analysis was performed in which groups of men with the following conditions were related to the annual BPH growth rate: men without or with metabolic disease; men with different components of the metabolic syndrome, and men with low or high fasting plasma insulin values. The prostate gland volume and the TZ volume were determined using ultrasound. The presence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and treated hypertension was obtained from the patients' medical records. Data on blood pressure, waist and hip measurement, body height and weight were collected and body mass index and waist/hip ratio were calculated. Blood samples were drawn from fasting patients to determine the insulin and HDL-cholesterol values. RESULTS: In the subgroup of men subjected to measurement of both the total prostate gland volume and the TZ volume, the correlation coefficient between total prostate gland volume and the TZ volume was r.s. = 0.97 (p < 0.0001) which, thus, constituted the validity coefficient. The median annual BPH growth rate in the total group was 1.03 ml/year. The median annual BPH growth rate was faster in men with metabolic disease (p < 0.0001), NIDDM (p < 0.0001), treated hypertension (p < 0.0001), obesity (p < 0.0001) and dyslipidaemia (p < 0.0001) than in men without metabolic disease. Moreover, the annual BPH growth rate correlated positively with the diastolic blood pressure (r.s. = 0.27; p < 0.001), the BMI (r.s. = 0.22; p < 0.001) and four other expressions of obesity, and negatively with the HDL-cholesterol level (r.s. = -0.15; p < 0.001). The median annual BPH growth rate was faster in men with a high than in men with a low fasting plasma insulin level (p = 0.019). When the patients were divided into quartiles, the median annual BPH growth rate increased statistically significantly with increasing fasting plasma insulin levels. The fasting plasma insulin values correlated with the annual BPH growth rates (p = 0.009). When performing a multivariate analysis using the total prostate gland volume as dependent variable, fasting plasma insulin (p = 0.001) and age (p < 0.001) became statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results of the present report suggest that the total prostate gland volume constitutes a valid expression of BPH. The findings support the hypothesis that hyperinsulinaemia is causally related to the development of BPH and generate the hypothesis of an increased sympathetic nerve activity in men with BPH.     

Transrectal Ultrasonography to Predict the Clinical Outcome of Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: This study evaluated the long-term efficacy of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and determined whether the indices obtained with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) can predict the clinical response to TUMT.
Method: Between November 1991 and June 1992, 43 patients with symptomatic BPH were treated with TUMT using the Prostcare device. The therapy consisted of a 1 -hour treatment under topical anesthesia. The findings of uroflowmetry and AUA symptom score before treatment were compared with those obtained dt each visit after the therapy. As the indices, the transition zone (TZ) volume, transition zone ratio (TZ ratio = TZ volume/total prostate volume), total prostate volume, and presumed circle area ratio (PCAR) were calculated.
Results: There was a significant correlation between pretreatment TZ ratio and residual urine volume ( r = 0.472, P = 0.0022). The efficacy rates calculated by response criteria on the 3 point scale at 2 months, 12 months, and 30 months were 44.2%, 30.2%, and 25%, respectively. The significant prognostic factors that predicted the clinical effect 1 year after treatment were the TZ ratio and intraprostatic temperature. After controlling for the treatment temperature, the multivariate logistic regression model demonstrated that the TZ ratio was the significant predictor ( p = 0.049) of 1 year efficacy of treatment.
Conclusion: The present study showed that the efficacy rate of TUMT at 30 months was 25%, and that TKUS provides a simple parameter, the TZ ratio, which predicts the efficacy of TUMT.     

A pilot study evaluating a new questionnaire for prostatic symptom scoring, the SPSS, and its sensitivity as constructed to objective measures of outflow obstruction

AIM: To evaluate the extent to which our newly developed questionnaire, the Saitama Prostate Symptom Score (SPSS), for prostatic symptom scoring reflects objective findings in benign prostatic hyperplasia (clinical BPH) and to compare it with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with regard to diagnostic sensitivity in clinical BPH. METHODS: In this study, both the SPSS and the IPSS were self-administered by patients. Free uroflowmetry, a pressure-flow study and the measurement of prostatic volume were carried out. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the results of the IPSS questionnaire and the urethral obstruction grade estimated by Schaefer or Abrams-Griffiths nomograms. The total score of the SPSS was correlated with these nomograms (P = 0.0487 and P = 0.0413, respectively). There was no significant correlation between the results of the IPSS questionnaire and the total volume or transition zone volume of the prostate, whereas the total score of the SPSS correlated with the total volume of the gland and transition zone volume (P = 0.0044 and P= 0.0051, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study revealed the SPSS to correlate with objective findings satisfactorily. However, there are still several aspects of the SPSS which need to be improved upon, and the questionnaire should be studied in larger numbers of patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms.     

Clinical characteristics of alpha-blocker responders in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: Currently, alpha-blocker is becoming first-line drug therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although highly effective results are obtained with this therapy, a difference between the objective and subjective response rates is reported. To prevent unnecessary medical treatment and to predict the alpha-blocker response, we characterized the clinical features of alpha-blocker responders in men with BPH. METHODS: Twenty-two men were consecutively enrolled in this study and received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily for 4-6 weeks. The primary measures of efficacy were maximum urinary flow rate (Q(max)) determined from the flow measurements and international prostate symptom score (IPSS). Those with an increase in Q(max) of > or = 30% from baseline and a decrease in IPSS of > or = 25% from baseline were defined as Q(max) responders and IPSS responders, respectively. Clinical findings such as age, pretreatment IPSS and Q(max), serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), total prostate volume, transition zone (TZ) volume, TZ index and T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the prostate TZ were compared between responders and non-responders for both criteria. RESULTS: In 17 of 22 (77.2%) patients IPSS improved by > or = 25%. In 9 of 22 (40.9%) patients Q(max) improved by > or = 30%. There were no differences in clinical findings between IPSS responders and non-responders. On the contrary, Q(max) responders showed smaller total prostate and TZ volumes, a smaller TZ index and a lower intensity of the TZ in MRI than Q(max) non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the prostate volume and MRI findings of the inner prostate gland were useful in predicting Q(max) responders to the alpha-blocker in men with BPH. In contrast, there were no clinical characteristics of the IPSS responders. IPSS responders without a Q(max) response should be closely followed while continuing the alpha-blocker therapy for a long duration.     

Anatomoradiologic correlations in prostate benign hypertrophy. Report of a series of 220 cases

In our daily practice, the reliability of ultrasonography (US) and digital rectal examination (DRE) is limited by many factors. The aim of our study is to correlate between the prostatic volume assessed by the DRE, the pre operative US results and the actual weight of the enucleated or endoscopic resection benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We report a serie of 220 patients with BPH treated by endoscopic resection or by open surgery. The mean age is 65 years (40-90 years old). Ultrasonography was performed in 92% of the cases, and transrectal ultrasound only in 8%. All our patients either underwent endoscopic resection (49.6%) or adenomectomy (50.4%). We found a high correlation between the prostatic volume assessed by DRE and by ultrasonography (r = 0.79; P < 0.0001) and the weight of the piece of surgical adenomectomy (r = 0.701, P < 0.0001). However, the volume of benign prostatic hyperplasia assessed by US did not correlate with the piece of endoscopic resection (r = 0.214, P < 0.05). This study and a review of recent literature enabled us to notice the various anatomical and radiological factors implicated in this correlation.     

Effects of age,sex steroids,and family relationships on volumes of prostate zones in men with and without prostate cancer

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer commonly occur together. This suggests that common familial, hormonal, and environmental factors contribute to their development. In men at risk for the development of prostate cancer (at 40 men in 19 families) and aged-matched unrelated controls (n = 46), we have determined whether familial factors, age, and blood hormone concentrations are related to the transition zone (TZ), peripheral zone (PZ), or total volume of the prostate measured by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). We determined that the influences of age, prostate cancer (n = 15), and familial status did not significantly affect the relationships reported. Therefore, data from all groups were combined for this study. TZ correlated positively with age (P = 0.003) after controlling for family status, but total prostate volume correlated insignificantly with age (P = 0.08). In addition, the ratio of TZ to PZ volumes also correlated significantly with age in the control group (r = 0.27, P = 0.014). Both TZ and PZ volumes correlated highly (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001, n = 86) with total volume. In addition, total volume correlated significantly (r = 0.71, P < 0.001) with the ratio of the TZ/PZ volumes, which also correlated significantly with each other (r = 0.61, P < 0.0001, n = 86). In contrast to the increase of TZ volume related to total prostate volume, PZ volume declined compared with total volume. Prostate volumes up to 50 ml are predominated by the PZ and above 50 ml by the TZ, which may compress and shrink the PZ. Both TZ and total prostate volume correlated positively with serum estrone concentrations (P = 0.04 and P = 0.003, respectively). These results suggest that the risk of prostate cancer does not contribute to generalized overgrowth of the prostate, including the TZ. However, estrogens and age strongly influence TZ but not PZ volume. Both PZ and TZ volumes rise together until the prostate exceeds 50 ml, when the growth of the TZ appears to exceed the PZ and then to compress it.