Bangkok Hospital Prostate Gland Clinic

The prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland surrounding the tube called the urethra that leads from the bladder to the tip of the penis. Its primary function is to provide fluids that nourish sperm. The prostate gland is also the source of significant health problems. It can become inflamed and infected (prostatitis); it can ¬– especially in older men – become enlarged (BPH); and it can become cancerous.

Treatment for prostatitis caused by bacteria usually involves taking painkillers and antibiotics for several weeks. Treatment for non-bacterial prostatitis is less straightforward and centers on eliminating the cause of the symptoms.

An enlarged prostate gland (BPH) is a relatively common occurrence. Most cases of BPH are not indicative of a significant problem and occur for reasons not fully understood as men age. In about half the cases, it is not bothersome enough to compel most people to seek medical treatment. However, it can be symptomatic of cancer, so early testing and diagnosis is very important. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland include the following:

• Urgent need to urinate
• Weak urine stream
• Difficulty starting urination
• Stopping and starting while urinating
• Dribbling at the end of urination
• Frequent need to urinate, including at night (nocturia)
• Inability to completely empty the bladder
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Urinary tract infections

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, our clinic can help determine whether the symptoms warrant further evaluation and treatment. Aside from an enlarged prostate, the symptoms could indicate a more serious condition, including bladder stones, urinary tract infections, a heart condition, prostatitis, or prostate cancer.

Diagnostic tests performed by the clinic include the following:

• Urine flow test to measure the strength and quantity of urine
• Post void residual volume test to determine if the bladder is empty after urinating
• Ultrasound testing to determine the size of the prostate
• Urodynamic studies to measure bladder function and pressure
• Cystoscopy to examine the urethra and bladder by inserting a thin tube into the urethra
• Intravenous pyelogram X-ray to provide a radiological image of the urinary tract
• A prostate specific antigen test (PSA) to check for abnormally large amounts of PSA in the blood, an indicator of possible infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer
• Prostate biopsy to examine prostate tissue for the presence of cancer cells

A wide variety of treatments exist for an enlarged prostate. These include medication, non-invasive procedures, and surgery.

Non-invasive procedures include several types of heat therapy that apply energy through the urethra to destroy excess prostate tissue. These therapies include Microwave Therapy (TUMT), Radiofrequency Therapy (TUNA), Electrovaporization, and several types of Laser Therapy.

In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary. One such procedure is Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), a process whereby prostate tissue is scraped away with an instrument inserted through the urethra. Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP) is a procedure in which an instrument inserted through the urethra is used to make cuts in the urethra to enlarge its diameter. The most involved surgical process is Open Prostatectomy, in which an incision is made through the abdomen to reach the prostate and remove excess tissue. It is used in cases of extreme glandular enlargement.

When cancer is found in the prostate, a variety of options are available depending on the extent of the cancer. These include External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), in which a high intensity radiation beam is used to kill cancerous cells. Another treatment option is Radioactive Seed Implants, where rice-sized radioactive “seeds” are inserted into the prostate to slowly deliver radiation to the cancerous cells.

If the cancer is confined to the prostate gland, a Radical Prostatectomy to remove the entire prostate gland may be performed. In some instances, hormone therapy or chemotherapy is also applied. Although these techniques do not completely eliminate the cancer, they can slow its growth significantly.

For more information, please contact
Bangkok Urological Center
Tel. (662) 310 3009, (662) 755 1009
Email : info@bangkokhospital.com