The Diagnostic Value of Bladder-Wall Thickness and Arfi Elastography of Bladder Wall Amongst Patients With Bph

Abstract

Objective: The present study identified bladder-wall thickness and, through the use of ARFI elastography, bladder-wall elasticity values amongst patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), then examined their relationship with the disease diagnosis and progression. Methods: The study included 60 patients with BPH (patient group) and 50 healthy volunteers (control group). All members of the patient and control groups were measured for bladder-wall thickness (BWT) and bladder-wall mean shear-wave velocity (BW mean SWV) values, as well as for uroflowmetry parameters. The patient group was divided into the sub-groups of mild-medium and severe BPH, according to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). The patient and control groups and their sub-groups were compared amongst themselves. Results: Whilst the BPH group indicated a mean wall thickness of 6.3 +/- 2 mm (range: 3-12 mm), the control group yielded a result of 2.8 +/- 0.7 mm (range: 2-5 mm), which led to the conclusion that there was a significant difference between these groups (p<0.01). The BWmeanSWV value was 1.39 +/- 0.5 m/s (range: 0.60-2.65 m/s) for the BPH group and 1.01 +/- 0.2 m/s (range: 0.60-1.50 m/s) for the control group, and this also indicated the presence of a significant difference between the groups (p<0.01). According to the IPSS, BWT was observed to be significantly higher in the severe sub-group when compared to the mild-medium BPH group [(5.07 +/- 1 mm; range: 3-7 mm), (6.8 +/- 2 mm; range: 4-12 mm), p<0.01). Conclusions: When compared to the control group, patients with BPH showed significantly higher BWT and BWmeanSWV values; these two parameters may provide an additional method in the diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to BPH. BWT, increasing in parallel with the severity of BPH, may be utilised in the follow-up for BPH progression.