Blood Flow of the Hyperplastic and Neoplastic Human Prostate Measured by Hydrogen Polarography

Twenty-seven recordings of prostatic blood flow were made in 24 patients, using the hydrogen polaro-graphy method. The blood flow varied from 14.5 to 46.9 ml/100 g/min. In 12 patients with benign hyperplasia the mean prostatic blood flow was 26.7. In 6 patients with clinically manifest carcinoma, and in 4 patients with unsuspected carcinoma, the corresponding values were 23.2 and 32.1 ml/100 g/min. The blood flow was not significantly different in the three groups. Treatment with stilboestrol did not change the blood flow significantly. Periurethral tissue had a mean flow of 37.5 ml/100 g/ min, which is significantly higher than that of prostatic tissue. It is concluded that hydrogen polarography can be used to measure prostatic blood flow, but it appears to be of no diagnostic value in distinguishing between prostatic carcinoma and benign hyperplasia.