Prostatomegaly

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 11 May 2024

Prostatomegaly is a general term used to describe enlargement of the prostate gland from whatever cause. Usually, the prostate is considered enlarged on imaging when its volume measures >30 mL 3

The term prostatomegaly is often used interchangeably with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Strictly speaking, prostatomegaly refers to any cause of prostatic enlargement, of which BPH is a common cause.

Prostatomegaly is a general descriptive term, and its causes are varied:

Prostate volume is significantly influenced by age, with one study of healthy caucasian participants showing a gradual increase of mean prostate volume from 24 to 38 mL between the age groups of 50-54 years and those over 75 years 2

The volume of the prostate can be estimated on ultrasound, CT and MRI with the ellipsoid formula 1 measuring each length in centimeters:

  • width x height x length x 0.523

The result is preferably expressed in milliliters (mL) ref although it is still common to see "cc (cubic centimeters)" used in reports.

Please see specific causes for further information. 

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