Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – diagnosis and treatment

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases observed in males above 50 years of age. The symptoms include signs of irritation and subvesical urinary outlet obstruction. The diagnostics of the disease should take into account the findings obtained by anamnesis, clinical examination (including per rectum examination), laboratory investigations, ultrasound scan of the urinary tract and uroflowmetry. The methods of treatment of BPH can be divided into conservative, low-invasive and surgical. The fundamental medication used in conservative treatment includes a-adrenergic receptor blockers and 5-a reductase inhibitors. Transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) remains the golden standard of surgical treatment, while laser surgery techniques are gaining increasing popularity in treatment of BPH. The selection of surgical technique is based on prostate size and assessment of the patient’s general condition, taking into consideration concurrent diseases.