Prostate calculi in cancer and BPH in a cohort of Korean men: presence of calculi did not correlate with cancer risk

Abstract

Prostatic calculi are common and are associated with inflammation of the prostate. Recently, it has been suggested that this inflammation may be associated with prostate carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prostatic calculi and prostate cancer (PCa) in prostate biopsy specimens. We retrospectively analyzed 417 consecutive patients who underwent transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and prostate biopsies between January 2005 and January 2008. Based on the biopsy findings, patients were divided into benign prostatic hyperplasia and PCa groups. TRUS was used to detect prostatic calculi and to measure prostate volume. The correlations between PCa risk and age, serum total PSA levels, prostate volume, and prostatic calculi were analyzed. Patient age and PSA, as well as the frequency of prostatic calculi in the biopsy specimens, differed significantly between both the groups (P < 0.05). In the PCa group, the Gleason scores (GSs) were higher in patients with prostatic calculi than in patients without prostatic calculi (P = 0.023). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that patient age, serum total PSA and prostate volume were risk factors for PCa (P = 0.001), but that the presence of prostatic calculi was not associated with an increased risk of PCa (P = 0.13). In conclusion, although the presence of prostatic calculi was not shown to be a risk factor for PCa, prostatic calculi were more common in patients with PCa and were associated with a higher GS among these men.

Computer-Assisted Quantitative Assessment of Prostatic Calcifications in Patients with Chronic Prostatitis

“…We also confirmed the correlation between micturion symptoms and extent of calcification of the prostatic tissue [22, 23]. This can be explained by the more frequent presence of infection of the prostatic fluid in presence of prostatic stones or by a mechanical effect of the less compliant prostatic tissue due to fibrosis and calcifications.…”

Tumor necrosis factor-α expression in patients with obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia is associated with a higher incidence of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis NIH category IV and prostatic calcification

“…In addition, prostate calcifications were not captured by ultrasound in five patients. However, previously published literature also used ultrasound investigation to identify prostatic calculi [7,8]. Thirdly, bacterial assessment was only based on two resection chips from each lobe, and ejaculate cultures were not taken into consideration.…”

“…An association between prostatic calcification and PCa or BPH has not been established thus far [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The exact mechanism underlying the formation of prostatic calcification is still unclear.…”

“…Evidence for the importance of estrogen, by way of increasing interferon-mRNA and interleukin (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8 IL-15, IL-17) in BPH can be found [6][7][8][9][10]14]. Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) is an adipokine responsible for systemic inflammatory reactions.…”

Prostatic calculi influence the antimicrobial efficacy in men with chronic bacterial prostatitis

“…[5][6][7] Prostatic calculi are common in men evaluated for prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia, but the significance of prostatic calculi with respect to urological diseases and symptoms is obscure. 8,9 Prostatic calculi are very common in prostatitis, and one study indicated that prostatic calculi were found in 59% of the patients and only 1% of the controls (P,0.001), confirming their specific relation to prostate inflammation. 10 It has been reported that a prostatic calculus is actually a cluster of bacteria and that these calculi may be the cause of prolonged bacteriosis in patients with recurrent urinary tract infections.…”