What Is BPH?
6. American Urological Association (AUA) Guidelines
The AUA has developed guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of BPH. These guidelines were based on the 1994 guidelines and updated in 2006 and 2010, with confirmation of their validity in 2014.
According to these guidelines, the patient’s medical history should be taken to assess the voiding dysfunction. Then, a physical examination should include a neurologic examination and digital rectal examination (DRE) to evaluate the prostate. DRE is used to evaluate the size and outline of the gland. Additionally, note that, in most cases, possible malignancies will appear in the peripheral zones of the gland; thus they can be detected through DRE. Furthermore, patients who have agreed to prostate cancer screening can also undergo PSA testing. This test is recommended for men above 50 years of age, and men above 45 years at high risk for developing prostate cancer. Finally, there is also an International Prostate Symptom Score, based on questions concerning BPH symptoms, that aids physicians in determining the severity of BPH.
Advertisement
