Herbert, a 69-year-old man, comes to your office complaining of nocturia. On questioning Herbert, you find that for the past 3 m
onths he has been getting up at least 5 times a night to void. He came in to seek help today because of his wife’s insistence that he be checked out. When you perform the digital rectal exam, you find that his prostate protrudes 3 to 4 cm into the rectum. What grade would you assign to Herbert’s prostate enlargement?
The grading method for prostate enlargement is done based on the degree to which the prostate encroaches into the rectum. When the prostate encroaches 1-2 cm into the rectum, it is grade 1; when the prostate encroaches >2 cm but < 3 cm into the rectum, it is grade 2, when it encroaches >3 cm but <4 cm into the rectum, it is grade 3 and finally when it encroaches >4 cm into the rectum, it is grade 4.
Therefore, the grade that would be assigned to Herbert’s prostate enlargement is grade 3.
Nocturia is called a complaint that the person has to wake up one or more times at night to void(to urinate). A digital rectal exam that allows a doctor to check the lower rectum, pelvis, and lower belly for cancer and other health problems.
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the duct which carries urine out of the body.
A grade 3 implies that the glans became larger.This is not cancer, nor does it increase the chance of prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
