A gland the size and shape of a crab apple
that surrounds the upper portion of the male urethra.
Its main function is to produce part of the fluid that
makes up semen.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
An enzyme produced
by the glandular cells of the prostate and secreted into
the seminal fluid that is released during ejaculation.
High blood levels may indicate the presence of prostate
cancer but can also be caused by benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) and infection.
prostatitis
An inflammation of the prostate that may
cause pain in the lower back and in the area between
the scrotum and rectum.
prostatodynia
A condition that causes the same
symptoms as prostatitis but is not associated with infection
or inflammation.
PSA density
The PSA level divided by the size of the
prostate. Allows the doctor to better distinguish
between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and
prostate cancer by taking prostate size into account
when assessing the PSA level.
PSA velocity
A measurement of the changes in PSA
values over time. PSA velocity is greater in men with
prostate cancer than in those without the disease.
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radical prostatectomy
A type of surgery for prostate
cancer that removes the entire prostate and the
seminal vesicles.
residual urine
Urine retained in the bladder after
voiding. It can become infected or lead to the formation
of bladder stones.
retrograde ejaculation
Ejaculation of semen into the
bladder rather than through the penis.
Can lead to
infertility.
retropubic open prostatectomy
An operation for
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Used when the
prostate is too large for the surgeon to perform
transurethral prostatectomy (TURP).
It involves
moving aside the bladder so that the inner prostate
tissue can be removed without entering the bladder.
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S
seminal vesicles
Glands located on each side of the
male bladder that secrete seminal fluid.
simple prostatectomy
A type of surgery for benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that typically involves
removing only the inner portion of the prostate.
It is
performed either through the urethra (TURP) or by
making an incision in the lower abdomen (retropubic
or suprapubic prostatectomy).
smooth muscle cells
Muscle cells in the prostate that
contract to push prostatic fluid into the urethra during
ejaculation.
stent
A plastic or metal device placed in the urethra
to keep it open.
suprapubic open prostatectomy
An operation for
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) performed when
the prostate is too large to allow for TURP.
Involves
opening the bladder and removing the inner portion
of the prostate through the bladder.
surgical castration
Surgical removal of either the
testicles (bilateral orchiectomy) or the contents of the
testicles (subcapsular orchiectomy).
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T
thermotherapy
A treatment for benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) that involves heating the prostate to
more than 110° F. Resulting tissue and nerve damage
alleviates symptoms.
thromboembolism
Vein inflammation due to a blood
clot.
TNM system
A system for describing the clinical stage
of a cancerous tumor using T numbers to indicate
whether the tumor can be felt and, if so, the extent of
the tumor. N numbers indicate cancer that has spread
to the lymph nodes, and M numbers are used to indicate
cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
total androgen blockade
A treatment for prostate
cancer that interferes with the production and action
of both testicular and adrenal androgens by combining
an antiandrogen with a luteinizing hormone-releasing
hormone analog or surgical castration.
transrectal ultrasound
A procedure that uses an ultrasound
probe inserted into the rectum to create images
of the prostate.
Used during prostate biopsy to diagnose
prostate cancer.
transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)
A
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment in which
one or two small incisions are made in the prostate with
an electrical knife or laser.
Symptoms of BPH are alleviated
by decreasing the pressure the prostate exerts on
the urethra.
transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT)
A benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment that uses
microwave energy to heat and destroy prostate tissue.
The microwave energy is emitted from a catheter
inserted in the urethra.
transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)
A benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) treatment in which prostate
tissue is destroyed with heat delivered by low-energy
radio waves through tiny needles at the tip of a catheter
inserted into the prostate through the urethra.
transurethral prostatectomy (TURP)
The “gold
standard” treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH).
A long, thin instrument called a resectoscope is
passed through the urethra into the bladder and used
to cut away prostate tissue and seal blood vessels with an
electric current.
Also called transurethral resection of
the prostate.
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U
urethra
The canal through which urine is carried from
the bladder and out of the body.
In men, the urethra
also carries semen that is released during ejaculation.
urethral stricture
Narrowing of the urethra.
uroflowmetry
A noninvasive test for benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) that measures the speed of urine
flow.
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V
vasodilator
A drug that allows the penis to become
engorged with blood by widening the blood vessels.
Used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Examples
are alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine.
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W
watchful waiting
An approach to the management of
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer
in which no treatment is immediately attempted, but
the patient is carefully monitored.
Also known as expectant
management.
water-induced thermotherapy
In this minimally
invasive therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), a water-filled balloon inflated in the urethra
heats the prostate to temperatures that destroy
prostate tissue.
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Derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Prostate Disorders
Look In the Book: Prostate Disorders
copyright 2007 Johns Hopkins Health Alerts.
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