Uncomfortable in Peeing?? Check Out the Diagnostic Tests for Enlarged Prostate

Prostate Enlargement Test – Enlarged prostate is a medical condition which arises due to homeostatic imbalance in proliferative cells and dying cells of the prostate gland. This condition is also known as benign prostate hyperplasia and must not be misinterpreted as prostate cancer. 

This article includes the core details about various diagnostic tests to identify prostate hyperplasia, and you will get essential details regarding several treatment options to cure enlarged prostate. 

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate

Patients with enlarged prostate usually experience problems in the urinary tract; major symptoms are related to peeing, like, irregular peeing, pain and discomfort during peeing, dribbling, prolonged urination, urinary incontinence, Urinary hesitancy, nocturia, etc. Rarely the enlarged prostate condition is asymptomatic.

Enlarged Prostate is Not Prostate Cancer

More often, people with enlarged prostate misinterpret their condition as prostate cancer. However, the prostate is not enlarged due to cancerous cells in the prostate gland; instead, it is the hyperplasia of prostate cells due to homeostatic imbalance, not an uncontrolled growth.

DIAGNOSIS

Doctors recommend following diagnostic tests for the patient complaining about urinary tract problems and symptoms pointing towards enlarged prostate. However, there are many other reasons or diseases that show these urinary tract problems. Hence, it is advised to get through a set of diagnostics recommended by qualified doctors for assured treatment. 

1. 1. Estimation of urinary flow rate through urinary flow examination
2. 2. A digital rectal test is done to check the chances of any cancerous cells in the prostate.
3. 3. Blood tests: simple and prostate-specific antigen blood tests are recommended by doctors to check kidney problems and to check for the number of prostate antigens in the blood. If the level of prostate antigens is abnormally high, then the prostate is enlarged or defective.
4. 4. Postvoid -residual urine volume test- Doctors quantify urine after complete peeing or urination.
5. 5. Record the timing and volume of urination: 24-hour voiding is recorded to examine the amount of urination and the frequency with which a patient urinates.
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For more serious conditions, your doctor might recommend the following tests:

1. 1. Prostate biopsy- It is the diagnostic sampling procedure in which small amounts of prostate tissues are extracted using a special needle and observed in the laboratory for enlarged prostate suspects.
2. 2. Ultrasound: The patient is asked to undergo either transrectal or transabdominal ultrasound. 

In transrectal ultrasound, a probe is administered in the rectum, which travels towards the prostate. When the ultrasonic radiations are directed at the pelvic region, the echoes coming from the prostate are recorded, and reports are observed for the extra size of the prostate.

1. 1. Urodynamics- The patient’s urinary bladder is checked for the functioning of bladder muscles.
2. 2. Urethral cystoscopy: This test involves an instrument, -a cystoscope, which helps to visualise the inside of the urethra; before this test, the patient is administered with local anaesthesia.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is enlarged prostate a type of cancer?

No, an enlarged prostate is not prostate cancer; these are two different conditions. More often, people with enlarged prostate misinterpret their condition as prostate cancer. Enlarged prostate occurs due to hormonal imbalance, which disturbs the homeostasis between dying cells and dividing cells in the prostate gland. Whereas in prostate cancer, the cells undergo uncontrollable division and growth.

Q2. How can an enlarged prostate be diagnosed?

Several diagnostic methods are available to check whether a person has an enlarged prostate or any other illness:

1. 1. Estimation of urinary flow rate through urinary flow test
2. 2. A digital rectal examination is done to check the chances of any cancerous cells in the prostate.
3. 3. Blood tests: simple and prostate-specific antigen blood tests are recommended by doctors to check kidney problems and to check for the number of prostate antigens in the blood. If the level of prostate antigens is abnormally high, then the prostate is enlarged or defective.
4. 4. Postvoid -residual urine volume test– Doctors examine the volume of urine left in the bladder after complete peeing or urination.
5. 5. Record the timing and volume of urination: 24-hour voiding is recorded to examine the amount of urination and the frequency with which a patient urinates.
6.  

Q3. Which diagnostic test will a doctor prescribe for the severe condition of an enlarged prostate?

1. 1. Prostate biopsy
2. 2. Ultrasound: The patient is asked to undergo either transrectal or transabdominal ultrasound. 
3. 3. Urodynamics- The patient’s urinary bladder is checked for the functioning of bladder muscles.
4. 4. Urethral cystoscopy: This test involves an instrument, -a cystoscope, which is inserted into the urethra to visualise the inside of the urethra; before this test, the patient is administered local anaesthesia.
5.  

Q4. Which type of ultrasound is used for enlarged prostate diagnosis?

Transrectal ultrasound and transabdominal ultrasound are commonly recommended by doctors to identify and diagnose enlarged prostate. 

In transrectal ultrasound, a probe is administered in the rectum, which travels towards the prostate. When the sound waves are directed at the pelvic region, the echoes coming from the prostate are recorded, and reports are observed for the extra size of the prostate.

Q5. Which cystoscopy is used to diagnose enlarged prostate?

Urethral cystoscopy is used for the diagnosis of enlarged prostate. This test involves an instrument, -a cystoscope, which is inserted into the urethra to visualise the inside of the urethra; before this test, the patient is administered local anaesthesia.

Q6. How can I check if my prostate is enlarged?

Patients with enlarged prostate usually experience problems in the urinary tract; major symptoms are related to peeing, like, irregular peeing, pain and discomfort during peeing, dribbling, prolonged urination, urinary incontinence, Urinary hesitancy, nocturia, etc. Rarely the enlarged prostate condition is asymptomatic.

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