Objectives. To evaluate the relation between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and noninvasive objective parameters of lower urinary tract dysfunction. Methods. Eight hundred three consecutive patients with LUTS and/or benign prostatic hyperplasia were evaluated with IPSS, uroflowmetry, prostate volume estimation, and postvoiding residue measurement. The relations between these parameters were quantified by means of Spearman correlation coefficients. Results. Statistically significant but weak correlations were found between the IPSS and results of uroflowmetry and postvoiding residual urine. There was no correlation between the IPSS and results of prostate volume measurements. Conclusions. The correlation between objective noninvasive parameters of lower urinary tract dysfunction and LUTS is weak.

T h e J ourn al o f U r o lo g y Copyright © 1996 by A m e r ic a n U ro lo g ic a l A s s o c ia t io n , I n c . Vol. 155, 1649-1654, May 1996 Conclusions: Clinical prostate score shows a superior correlation with bladder outlet obstruc tion than isolated objective parameters or symptom scores. CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC ENLARGEMENT AND LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS: DEVELOPMENT AND URODYNAMIC VALIDATION OF A CLINICAL PROSTATE SCORE FOR THE OBJECTIVE

Purpose: We docum ented th e resu lts of high energy tra n su re th ra l microwave therm otherapy in th e tre a tm e n t of benign pro static hyperplasia.M aterials and M ethods: We evaluated 116 p atien ts following tra n su re th ra l microwave th e r m otherapy according to sym ptom scores, tra n sre c ta l ultrasound, free voiding and pressure-flow study param eters.Results: Significant im provem ent was noted in all objective and subjective param eters. More over, cavities in th e prostatic u re th ra were observed in alm ost 40% of the patients.Conclusions: H igh energy tra n su re th ra l microwave therm otherapy is an effective therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. P atien ts w ith larg er prostates and m oderate to severe bladder outlet obstruction seem to be th e best candidates for th is higher energy therm otherapy protocol, although m orbidity is increased.

Purpose: We studied the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms as measured by the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS) and urodynamic findings in elderly men.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 803 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms via the I-PSS and urodynamics with pressure-flow studies.Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between all I-PSS questions (except intermittency) and objective parameters of obstruction. However, the clinical significance of this finding is minimal because a large overlap of symptom scores exists among patients with different grades of bladder outlet obstruction. The filling component of the I-PSS correlated somewhat better with obstruction than did the voiding component.Conclusions: It seems impossible to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction from symptoms alone. It does not even seem possible to define subgroups in which further urodynamic examination is indicated.K ey W okds: prostate, bladder neck obstruction, urinary tract, urodynamics