Prostatodynia and interstitial cystitis: one and the same?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate further the observation that men with prostatodynia may represent a subset of patients with interstitial cystitis.

METHODS: The charts of 20 patients with the diagnosis of nonbacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia who underwent cystoscopy and bladder hydrodistention were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: The primary complaint of all 20 patients was genital or rectal pain, or both. Ten patients reported irritative voiding symptoms. Twelve of the 20 patients developed petechial hemorrhages involving the bladder uroepithelium on hydrodistention. Bladder biopsies revealed no significant histopathologic abnormalities. Nine of the 12 patients who developed petechial hemorrhages reported symptomatic improvement at 2- to 3-week follow-ups compared with none of the 8 patients without petechial hemorrhages.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis should be considered in patients with nonbacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia.