Causes Of Enlarged Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-shaped glandular organ located around the neck of
the male urinary bladder, females do not have prostate gland. The common
causes of prostate enlargement are briefly described below. For a more detailed
description, please click through the respective links.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign enlargement of the prostate gland occurs in aging males,
particularly in those that are older than 45yrs. The
incidence increases with age thereafter, such that by the
eight decade of life, almost 90 percent of all men have some
prostate enlargement. The hyperplasia begins in the
transitional zone, therefore can easily compress the prostatic urethra and cause obstruction to urinary flow. The
hyperplasia is believed to be dependent on testosterone (
the male hormone), but the exact cause is unknown.
Cancer Of The Prostate
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. The mortality
is relatively more common ( for unclear reasons) in blacks
than Caucasians and there is an increased risk in men who
have relatives that were diagnosed with prostate cancer
before the age of 70. Hormonal dependency has been suggested
but the exact relationship is not known.
Prostatitis
This refers to various inflammatory conditions affecting the prostate
gland. Acute prostatitis is commonly caused by bacterial
organisms such as E.coli, while chronic prostatitis may be
present without necessarily having evidence of infection.
Prostatic Abscess
Prostatic abscesses are purulent collections that result as a complication of bacterial prostatitis.
Prostatic abscess is usually treated by surgical drainage and antibiotics.
|
|
