Mens health Flashcards
What does BPH stand for?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
What is BPH?
Common condition affecting men in older men which causes enlargement of the prostate when there is hyperplasia of the stromal and epithelia cells. It presents with LUTS.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Urinary hesitancy, urgency, frequency Nocturia Weak urine flow Straining to pass urine Terminal dribbling after urination Chronic urinary retention - feeling of incomplete emptying
What assessments can be done if a man presents with lower urinary tract symptoms?
Digital rectal examination Abdo exam Urinary frequency volume chart Urine dipstick PSA blood test
Why is PSA not accurate?
It has a high rate of false positives. Can be raised by multiple things - prostate cancer - BPH - prostatitis - UTIs - vigorous exercise - recent prostate stimulation
How does BPH feel on a DRE?
Smooth, symmetrical, slightly soft prostate
How does prostate cancer feel on a DRE?
firm, hard, asymmetrical, irregular and lumpy
How is BPH managed?
Alpha blockers - tamsulosin - 400mg once daily - relaxes smooth muscle
5 - alpha reductase inhibitors - finasteride - 5mg once daily - gradually reduces the size of the prostate
Surgery
How do 5 alpha reductase inhibitors work?
Gradually reduce the size of a prostate by stopping the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (the more potent form)
What are the main side effects of finasteride?
Sexual dysfunction
Breast abnormalities
What are the main side effects of tamsulosin?
Postural hypotension and dizziness
Sexual dysfunction
Nausea and vomiting
What are the surgical options for BPH?
TURP - transurethral resection of the prostate
Open prostatectomy
What are some complications of TURP?
Bleeding Infection Urinary incontinence Erectile dysfunction Retrograde ejactulation Urethral strictures
What is the most common cancer in men?
Prostate cancer
Which part of the prostate is mainly affected by prostate cancer?
Peripheral zone
Which part of the prostate is most commonly affected in BPH?
Central zone
What are some risk factors for prostate cancer?
Older age Family history Black african or Caribbean origin Anabolic steroids Smoking
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Most are asymptomatic.
May have LUTS - e.g. hesitancy, increased frequency, weak flow, terminal dribbling and nocturia.
Haematuria
Erectile dysfunction
Symptoms of metastasis - weight loss, bone pain etc.
How is suspected prostate cancer investigated?
DRE
Multiparametric MRI
Prostate biopsy
What are the risks of a prostate biopsy?
False negatives if the biopsy misses the cancerous area.
Pain
Bleeding
Infection
Urinary retention due to short term swelling
Erectile dysfunction (rare)
What is brachytherapy?
A type of internal radiotherapy
What staging systems can be used to assess severity of prostate cancer?
Gleason grading system
TNM staging
How is prostate cancer managed?
Surveillance - if early as normally slow growing External beam radiotherapy Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) Hormone therapy Surgery
What is a complication of external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer?
Proctitis - inflammation of the rectum.
Causing pain, altered bowel habits, bleeding and discharge.
What are side effects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer?
Inflammation in nearby organs - cystitis (bladder) or proctitis (rectum).
Can also lead to ED, incontinence and increased risk of bladder or rectal cancers.
What are the different hormone therapies that can be given for prostate cancer?
Androgen receptor blocks
GnRH agonists
Bilateral orchidectomy to remove testicles
What are the side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer?
Hot flushes
Sexual dysfunction
Gynaecomastia
Fatigue
Osteoporosis
What is prostatitis?
Inflammation of the prostate