Prostatic calculi

Prostatic calculi (PC), prostatic stones, prostatic calcification or prostatic lithiasis, are hyper-echoic mineral deposits in the prostate that are frequently detected incidentally during transabdominal ultrasonography, transrectal ultrasonography, or computed tomography.^[1][2][3]

Prostatic calculi
Other names	prostatic stones, prostatic calcification, prostatic lithiasis
Transrectal ultrasound of prostatic stones in the peri-urethral zone of the prostate
Specialty	Urology

Formation

There are two main types of prostatic calculi:

• Endogenous stones: These are small stones formed within the acini of the prostate. They have a higher correlation with age.^[3]
• Extrinsic stones: These stones are usually larger and formed due to the reflux of urine into the prostate.^[3]

The exact mechanism of the development of prostatic calculi is still unclear.^[3]

Prevalence

In a study of young adults in Greece (aged 21–50, mean age 40.9 years), the prevalence was found to be 7.35%.^[4] While among urologic patients in South Korea (aged 29–89, mean age 61.9 years), the prevalence was 40.7%.^[5]

The prevalence is notably higher in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, ranging from 68.8% to 70%.^[3] Additionally, a study conducted in Cleveland reported that 46.8% of patients with chronic pelvic pain had stones larger than 3mm.^[6]

Composition

Calcium phosphate is the most common component of prostatic calculi, accounting for more than 80% of cases.^[1]

Clinical significance

Most cases of prostatic calculi are asymptomatic.^[3] It's clinical significance is debated.^[2] While some studies report no significant association between PC and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), others suggest it can aggravate LUTS, chronic prostatitis, and sexual dysfunction.^[1]