Prostate Volume Changes Over Time: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract

Purpose According to a 1944 publication by Swyer benign prostatic hyperplasia develops in some men after age 45 with further prostatic growth whereas in other men prostate size remains stable or decreases with advancing age. Although there is an abundance of literature describing prostatic enlargement in association with benign prostatic hyperplasia, less is known about the phenomenon of prostate atrophy. Materials and Methods In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging serial pelvic magnetic resonance imaging was performed in men without prostate cancer beginning in 1993. From this population we retrospectively identified 278 men with 2 or more magnetic resonance imaging determined prostate volume measurements to examine differential growth rates in a cohort of community men over time. Results Median age was 58 years and median prostate size was 28 cc at study entry. At a median followup of 4.3 years prostate size increased in 61.9% and remained stable or decreased in 38.1% of men. The median rate of volume change was 0.6 cc per year (range −9.9 to 62.1), corresponding to a median growth rate of 2.5% per year (range −29.2 to 176.4%). During followup 64.6% of men with an initial prostate size less than 40 cc had prostate growth compared to only 50.9% of men with an initial prostate size of 40 cc or greater. Conclusions These results suggest that changes in prostate size are highly variable among aging men. Although benign prostatic hyperplasia is common, a considerable proportion of aging men have a stable or decreasing prostate size. Further research is needed to identify the underlying mechanism for such differences in prostate growth.

UroLift: a new minimally-invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…The prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men and its association with age are well established in the urological literature [Loeb et al 2009]. The symptomatic sequelae of this disease can lead to significant symptoms and treatment challenges, which are encountered by urology and primary care professionals alike.…”

Electromagnetic Transponders Indicate Prostate Size Increase Followed by Decrease During the Course of External Beam Radiation Therapy

“…This behavior is clearly different from temporal changes in the prostate among normal, nontreated men. In a general population study of men whose prostate volume changes were determined by sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over a median time of 4.3 years, the median growth rate was 2.5% per year (15). However, prostate volume remained stable or decreased in 38% of men and increased in 62% of men.…”

Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Metformin, Letrozole and Scheduled Growth Hormone Injections: A Pathophysiology Oriented

“…The predictable outcome of the age-related GH shortage is the concordant loss of lean body mass, and precipitation of adipose tissue, particularly centripetal in distribution; a well-known physiologic process commonly pointed to as middle-agespread. The net effect of this middle-age change in body compartments (coincident with BPH kick-off) is the emergence of a mild physiologic insulin resistance and reciprocal compensatory hyperinsulinemia [11][12][13][14][15]. It has been, also, documented that obesity and insulin resistance markedly blunt both physiologic and provoked pituitary GH secretion.…”