RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Benign prostatic hyperplasia: When to ‘watch and wait,’ when and how to treat
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP S15
OP S20
VO 74
IS 5 suppl 3
A1 Rosenberg, Matt T.
A1 Lakin, Milton M.
A1 Staskin, David R.
A1 Levy, Albert
A1 Samraj, George P.
YR 2007
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/74/5_suppl_3/S15.abstract
AB Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a clinical diagnosis. While BPH is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, LUTS can signify a number of other disease states. For this reason, the patient evaluation, which includes a digital rectal examination, and careful differential diagnosis are crucial in men with LUTS. Many men with BPH are asymptomatic, and many others are not bothered by their symptoms; watchful waiting is appropriate management for these patients. When symptoms affect quality of life, pharmacologic therapy should be an option; choices include an alpha-blocker, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, or, for men with larger prostates, a combination of the two. Surgical intervention is indicated when BPH leads to other medical complications, including urinary retention and renal insufficiency.