| Prostatic calculi | |
|---|---|
| Other names | prostatic stones, prostatic calcification, prostatic lithiasis |
 | |
| Transrectal ultrasound of prostatic stones in the peri-urethral zone of the prostate | |
| Specialty | Urology |
Prostatic calculi (PC), prostatic stones, prostatic calcification or prostatic lithiasis, are hyper-echoic mineral deposits in the prostate that are frequently detected incidentally during transabdominal ultrasonography, transrectal ultrasonography, or computed tomography. [1] [2] [3]
There are two main types of prostatic calculi:
The exact mechanism of the development of prostatic calculi is still unclear. [3]
In a study of young adults in Greece (aged 21–50, mean age 40.9 years), the prevalence was found to be 7.35%. [4] While among urologic patients in South Korea (aged 29–89, mean age 61.9 years), the prevalence was 40.7%. [5]
The prevalence is notably higher in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, ranging from 68.8% to 70%. [3] Additionally, a study conducted in Cleveland reported that 46.8% of patients with chronic pelvic pain had stones larger than 3mm. [6]
Calcium phosphate is the most common component of prostatic calculi, accounting for more than 80% of cases. [1]
Most cases of prostatic calculi are asymptomatic. [3] It's clinical significance is debated. [2] While some studies report no significant association between PC and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), others suggest it can aggravate LUTS, chronic prostatitis, and sexual dysfunction. [1]
Interstitial cystitis (IC), a type of bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is chronic pain in the bladder and pelvic floor of unknown cause. It is the urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome of women. Symptoms include feeling the need to urinate right away, needing to urinate often, and pain with sex. IC/BPS is associated with depression and lower quality of life. Many of those affected also have irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Prostatitis is an umbrella term for a variety of medical conditions that incorporate bacterial and non-bacterial origin illnesses in the pelvic region. In contrast with the plain meaning of the word, the diagnosis may not always include inflammation. Prostatitis is classified into acute, chronic, asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate enlargement, is a noncancerous increase in size of the prostate gland. Symptoms may include frequent urination, trouble starting to urinate, weak stream, inability to urinate, or loss of bladder control. Complications can include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and chronic kidney problems.
A bladder stone is a stone found in the urinary bladder.
Pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE), also known as Alcock canal syndrome, is an uncommon source of chronic pain in which the pudendal nerve is entrapped or compressed in Alcock's canal. There are several different types of PNE based on the site of entrapment anatomically. Pain is positional and is worsened by sitting. Other symptoms include genital numbness, fecal incontinence and urinary incontinence.
Urinary retention is an inability to completely empty the bladder. Onset can be sudden or gradual. When of sudden onset, symptoms include an inability to urinate and lower abdominal pain. When of gradual onset, symptoms may include loss of bladder control, mild lower abdominal pain, and a weak urine stream. Those with long-term problems are at risk of urinary tract infections.
Mycoplasmataceae is a family of bacteria in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma.
Hydronephrosis describes hydrostatic dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces as a result of obstruction to urine flow downstream. Alternatively, hydroureter describes the dilation of the ureter, and hydronephroureter describes the dilation of the entire upper urinary tract.
Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. This operation is done for benign conditions that cause urinary retention, as well as for prostate cancer and for other cancers of the pelvis.
Prostatic congestion is a medical condition of the prostate gland that happens when the prostate becomes swollen by excess fluid and can be caused by prostatosis. The condition often results in a person with prostatic congestion feeling the urge to urinate frequently. Prostatic congestion has been associated with prostate disease, which can progress due to age. Oftentimes, the prostate will grow in size which can lead to further problems, such as prostatitis, enlarged prostate, or prostate cancer.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment using powerful acoustic pulses which is mostly used to treat kidney stones and in physical therapy and orthopedics.
Acute prostatitis is a serious bacterial infection of the prostate gland. This infection is a medical emergency. It should be distinguished from other forms of prostatitis such as chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).
Mepartricin is a macrolide polyene compound that is useful for urethra, prostate, and bladder function. It has been studied for use in treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Odynorgasmia, or painful ejaculation, also referred to as dysejaculation, dysorgasmia, and orgasmalgia, is a physical syndrome described by pain or burning sensation of the urethra or perineum during or following ejaculation. Causes include: infections associated with urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis; use of anti-depressants; cancer of the prostate or of other related structures; calculi or cysts obstructing related structures; trauma to the region.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of clinical symptoms involving the bladder, urinary sphincter, urethra and, in men, the prostate. The term is more commonly applied to men – over 40% of older men are affected – but lower urinary tract symptoms also affect women. The condition is also termed prostatism in men, but LUTS is preferred.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland and a form of prostatitis. It should be distinguished from other forms of prostatitis such as acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), previously known as chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, is long-term pelvic pain and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) without evidence of a bacterial infection. It affects about 2–6% of men. Together with IC/BPS, it makes up urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS).
Urologic diseases or conditions include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder control problems, and prostate problems, among others. Some urologic conditions do not affect a person for that long and some are lifetime conditions. Kidney diseases are normally investigated and treated by nephrologists, while the specialty of urology deals with problems in the other organs. Gynecologists may deal with problems of incontinence in women.
Urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) is ongoing bladder pain in either sex, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in men and interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) in women.
Michael P. O’Leary is an American urologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and a former president and chair of the Boston Athletic Association. His work focuses on benign prostate disease, stone disease, male infertility and sexual dysfunction in men.