AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN INTERNAL PROSTATIC ARCHITECTURE ON TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY - RESULTS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED SURVEY IN JAPAN

Purpose: We determined age-related differences in prostate internal ar chitecture and prostate volume by transrectal ultrasonography in Japan ese men 40 to 79 years old. Materials and Methods: The 287 study parti cipants were categorized by transition zone disease: group 1-not visib le (normal prostate), group 2-visible, borders unclear (diffusely enla rged hyperplasia) and group 3-visible, border clear (nodularly enlarge d hyperplasia). Results: Group 1 comprised 40% of men 50 to 79 years o ld and showed slightly decreased median prostate volume with age. Pros tate volume and its variance increased with age in group 3 but differe d little across age in group 2. Conclusions: In a community sample the prostatic internal architecture relationship with age and prostate vo lume suggested differing growth patterns.