Prostatic calculi
Prostatic calculi, 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.
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.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, the prevalence was found to be 7.35%. While among urologic patients in South Korea, the prevalence was 40.7%.The prevalence is notably higher in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, ranging from 68.8% to 70%. Additionally, a study conducted in Cleveland reported that 46.8% of patients with chronic pelvic pain had stones larger than 3 mm.