Clinical value of intravesical prostatic protrusion in the evaluation and management of prostatic and other lower urinary tract diseases

Intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) has emerged as a new prostatic morphometric parameter of significance to aid the clinicians in various aspects of managing the patients with some diseases of the lower urinary tract and the prostate. These include but may not be limited to its role in such conditions as: bladder outlet obstruction, trial without catheter, medical treatment effect, progression of lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (LUTS/BPH), risk factor for bladder stone in BPH, overactive bladder, prostate carcinoma, and early urinary continence recovery after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. In this review, I will try to summarize the different researchers' efforts on the potential practical application of this clinical tool. Technology is ever evolving to help us in the diagnosis and management of our patients. However, we as clinicians should contemplate their cost and possible suffering for the patient by wise and judicious utilization based on our clinical experience and tools. IPP seems to be one such promising clinical tool.