Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often shortened to BPH, means the prostate has enlarged in a non-cancerous way and may press on the urinary passage.
When to get help quickly: Prompt medical review is important if the person cannot pass urine, has fever with urinary symptoms, sees blood in the urine, or develops severe lower abdominal pain.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms include weak urine stream, difficulty starting to pass urine, dribbling after passing urine, needing to urinate often, especially at night, and feeling the bladder has not emptied well.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when doctors need to check the size of the prostate, see whether urine is being retained, or look for effects on the bladder or kidneys.
What radiology does
Ultrasound is commonly used to assess prostate enlargement, bladder emptying, and whether the kidneys are being affected by long-standing obstruction.
What usually happens next
Management may include lifestyle advice, medicines to improve urine flow, and in some cases surgery or other procedures if symptoms are troublesome or severe.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related scan guides
- Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive treatment for men suffering from an enlarged prostate (BPH). By cutting off extra blood supply to the prostate, it shrinks the gland and relieves pressure on the urethra without traditional surgery.
- Prostate MRIA Prostate MRI is a specialized scan used to evaluate the prostate gland in men. It is the most advanced imaging tool available for assessing the risk of prostate cancer.