Clinical correlation of prostatic lithiasis with chronic pelvic pain syndromes in young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence, morphology and clinical presentation of prostatic calculi in a selected population of young adults and to examine any possible correlation with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CP/CPPS).


METHODS
A population of 1374 young adults was screened with ultrasound imaging of the prostate and 101 cases with prostatic lithiasis were selected. Patients were divided in two groups, according to the type of prostatic calculi (type A: small, multiple or type B: larger, coarser calculi). Further evaluation included history and physical examination, recording of lower urinary tract symptoms and the Meares-Stamey test.


RESULTS
Calculi were type A in 71.3% and type B in 28.7% of cases. Localization (central/periurethral) was not correlated with other parameters. Age was closely related to calculus burden ( p =0.034 ). Type B calculi were more often associated with symptoms and chronic prostatitis/CPPS (chi(2)-test, p=0.007 and 0.018 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Small, multiple calcifications are a normal, often incidental ultrasonographic finding in the prostate and represent a result of age rather than a pathologic entity. However, larger prostatic calculi may be related to underlying inflammation and require further evaluation and possibly, treatment.
Geramoutsos
Ioannis
I
Department of Urology, Mesolongi General Hospital, Mesolongi, Greece.
Gyftopoulos
Kostis
K
Perimenis
Petros
P
Thanou
Vasiliki
V
Liagka
Dimitra
D
Siamblis
Dimitrios
D
Barbalias
George
G
D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014463:Ultrasonography