Prostatic calculi (PC), prostatic stones, prostatic calcification or prostatic lithiasis, are ''hyper-echoic

mineral deposits In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2011): Mi ...

in the

prostate The prostate is an male accessory gland, accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found in all male mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemica ...

'' that are frequently detected incidentally during transabdominal ultrasonography, transrectal ultrasonography, or

computed tomography A computed tomography scan (CT scan), formerly called computed axial tomography scan (CAT scan), is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or ...

Formation

There are two main types of prostatic calculi: * Endogenous stones: These are small stones formed within the

acini An acinus (; : acini; adjective, acinar or acinous) refers to any cluster of cells that resembles a many-lobed "berry", such as a raspberry (''acinus'' is Latin for "berry"). The berry-shaped termination of an exocrine gland, where the secret ...

of the prostate. They have a higher correlation with age. * Extrinsic stones: These stones are usually larger and formed due to the reflux of urine into the prostate. The exact mechanism of the development of prostatic calculi is still unclear.

Prevalence

In a study of young adults in

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

(aged 21–50, mean age 40.9 years), the prevalence was found to be 7.35%. While among urologic patients in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

(aged 29–89, mean age 61.9 years), the prevalence was 40.7%. The prevalence is notably higher in patients with

benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate enlargement, is a noncancerous increase in size of the prostate gland. Symptoms may include frequent urination, trouble starting to urinate, weak stream, urinary retention, inability t ...

, ranging from 68.8% to 70%. Additionally, a study conducted in

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

reported that 46.8% of patients with

chronic pelvic pain Pelvic pain is pain in the area of the pelvis. Acute pain is more common than chronic pain. If the pain lasts for more than six months, it is deemed to be chronic pelvic pain. It can affect both the male and female pelvis. Common causes in include ...

had stones larger than 3mm.

Composition

Calcium phosphate The term calcium phosphate refers to a family of materials and minerals containing calcium ions (Ca2+) together with inorganic phosphate anions. Some so-called calcium phosphates contain oxide and hydroxide as well. Calcium phosphates are white ...

is the most common component of prostatic calculi, accounting for more than 80% of cases.

Clinical significance

Most cases of prostatic calculi are asymptomatic. It's clinical significance is debated. While some studies report no significant association between PC and

lower urinary tract symptoms Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of clinical symptoms involving the bladder, urinary sphincter, urethra and, in men, the prostate. The term is more commonly applied to menover 40% of older men are affectedbut lower urinary t ...

(LUTS), others suggest it can aggravate LUTS, chronic prostatitis, and sexual dysfunction.

References

{{reflist Urological conditions Prostate disorders