Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Prostate Cancer (PCa) are amongst the most common diseases of the prostate gland men develop, as they grow older. BPH leads to the enlargement of the prostate gland and can have severe urinary symptoms, including kidney and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). On the other hand, PCa is the uncontrolled cell proliferation of the prostate gland that can be fatal in severe stages. Both conditions share many symptoms and show a similar clinical presentation. In addition, large-scale epidemiological studies showed that men with BPH have an increased risk of developing PCa. The diagnostic techniques and protocols for BPH and PCa are similar with regards to the fact that both conditions require the assessment of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels as well as the performance of digital rectal examination (DRE) along with the clinical symptom presented by the patient. Furthermore, PCa requires the continuation with a biopsy of the prostate gland, followed or assisted by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to deliver an MRI fusion procedure. Nonetheless, there is an underlying question on whether BPH and PCa are related or linked in any way. This narrative literature review is aiming to highlight the similarities, the differences and the potential link between BPH and PCa.
Key words: Prostate gland, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Inflammation, Prostate Cancer, Dihydrotestosterone
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