The Usefulness of Bladder Wall Thickness Measurement Using Ultrasound in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Jin, Yung Min; Kim, Tae Kyu

Abstract

PURPOSE: Significant detrusor muscle hypertrophy is a well-recognized clinical finding observed benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This can be recognized as a bladder wall thickness (BWT) on transabdominal ultrasonography. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of a BWT measurement using ultrasound in patients with BPH.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 197 men who underwent ultrasonic measurement of the BWT from August 1999 to August 2001 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 15 men comprised the normal control group, 145 men were in the symptomatic BPH group and 37 men were in the retention group. The BWT according to the clinical parameters (international prostate symptom score, peak flow rate, transverse diameter of prostate, age, duration of symptom, retention) was compared and analyzed.
RESULTS
The mean BWT in the control group, BPH group and the retention group were 2.21+/-0.44mm, 3.39+/-0.87mm, 4.04+/-0.86mm, respectively. The BWT was well correlated with the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), the peak flow rate (PFR), and age. The mean BWTs according to the I-PSS grouped into mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were 2.97 0.51mm, 3.12+/-0.68mm, 3.80+/-0.97mm, and the mean BWT according to PFR grouped into <10ml/sec, 10-15ml/sec, > 15ml/sec were 3.65+/-0.93mm, 3.23+/-0.76mm, 2.91+/-0.58mm, respectively. The mean BWT according to age grouped into 50-59 years, 60-69 years 70-79 years, =80 years were 3.03+/-0.70, 3.47+/-0.68, 3.96+/-0.91, 4.60+/-1.25, respectively. Using the receiver operative characteristic curve (ROC curve), the cut-off BWT that can be used to distinguish the obstructive group was 3.60mm.
CONCLUSIONS
The BWT can be measured noninvasively. From this study, the BWT can be a useful parameter for evaluating BPH.