ABSTRACT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BNH) is an extremely common condition in elderly men characterized by nodular transformation of the prostate with varying contribution from glands, smooth muscle, and fibrous tissue. The incidence of benign enlargement of the prostate has been studied mainly in autopsy series. The highest rates were recorded in three central European countries and in two northern European countries. Developed countries have excellent data recording systems, often high autopsy rates, and BNH is often reported as the primary cause of death. In developing nations data collection may be deficient; in many of these countries life expectency is short and consequently, the proportion of men in higher age brackets is low. The scanty information available indicates that benign hyperplasia does not occur in men who have been castrated before the onset of puberty. In a relatively recent study, the effect of orchiectomy and estrogens on benign prostatic hyperplasia was evaluated.
