The clinical picture seen in men after 40 years of age, caused by the tissue called adenoma which develops within the prostate and leads to obstruction at the bladder-neck in about 1/3 of males. This condition is named as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) which means the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Although the cellular changes that will lead to the development of adenoma starts around age 40, enlargement sufficient to obstruct the bladder outlet is usually seen after age 50.
Growing adenoma may cause three important changes:
1- Urethra -the channel that empties bladder- becomes obstructed by the adenoma.
2- Prostate enlarges as a whole.
3- The real prostate tissue becomes a capsule that surround the adenoma.
Urethral obstruction leads to the development of symptoms like:
(day and night)
(waiting for a while before initiation of urination)
(sensation of urination shortly after going to the toilet)
These symptoms usually develop in a long period of time and some patients with severe obstruction may get adapted to the symptoms and accept their situation as normal.
The degree and severity of obstruction can easily be determined by the test called uroflowmetry (measurement of urinary flow rate). It is a very simple and non-invasive test and must be performed before the treatment decision.
Significant difference between a normal and obstructed uroflowmetry graphic can easily be observed.
