Can men with prostates sized 80 mL or larger be managed conservatively?

To analyze the long-term clinical outcomes of men with large prostate sizes of 80 mL and greater who were managed conservatively.

We retrospectively analyzed men with prostate sizes of 80 mL and greater from our electronic hospital database. Clinical parameters such as age, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) scoring, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), uroflowmetry variables, and transabdominal ultrasound findings were evaluated. These parameters were compared at entry to our study and at the patient's latest follow-up visit.

For the 50 men included in our analysis, mean age was 68 years, median PSA was 9.9 ng/mL, and median prostate volume was 94 mL. Seven men underwent upfront prostate surgery, whereas the other 43 were managed conservatively, predominantly with pharmacotherapy (98%). Only serum PSA, QoL scores, and postvoid residual urine demonstrated a significant reduction at the end of a median follow-up period of 62 months. Fourteen men (33%) were considered to have progressed clinically, with 8 experiencing retention of urine and 6 having symptomatic deterioration. Of the 35 men who were still receiving conservative treatment at the end of the follow-up period, 24 men (69%) had a peak flow rate of 10 mL/s or greater, a QoL score of 3 or less, and mild to moderate (IPSS, 0-19) symptoms.

Although the incidence of clinical progression in men with prostate sizes of 80 mL and greater is high, there is still a role for conservative management with pharmacotherapy.