title: [The role of non-invasive urodynamics in bladder outlet obstruction diagnosis in male patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many methods have been suggested to assess bladder outlet obstruction, as defined by the gold standard of pressure flow studies. A comprehensive review of the literature on the different methods used to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction by non-invasive means was performed in order to compare those methods to invasive urodynamics in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search was done of the published literature covering from December 2003 on non-invasive methods, including only single measures to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction. We performed a comparison between all methods in terms of sensitivity and specificity for each test. For many techniques these values were calculated directly from the data presented in the article.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There has been applied many methods to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction. Those methods were divided into uroflowmetry, condom-catheter method, penile cuff method and Doppler ultrasonography urodynamics. Each method has been described and discussed in terms of its role in adding information to the diagnostic work-up for bladder outlet obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure flow studies still remain the gold standard for assessing bladder outlet obstruction. However non-invasive urodynamics is a promising branch. Probably the most reliable information is given by the association of numerous methods together.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palazzetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tosco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crivellaro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guaitoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbinante
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frea
mesh_terms: D017280:Condoms; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D011312:Pressure; D012212:Rheology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D014563:Urodynamics