Palliative treatment of prostatism.

A study of 310 patients with prostatism who were not operated upon within a month following the first examination, was made in an effort to determine indications for operation in the patient with mild symptoms of prostatism. This study showed that long duration of symptoms, residual urine of more than 60 cc. and enlargement of the gland beyond Grade I are criteria for the necessity of operation. Palliative treatment is not always indicated. Patients with a soft, boggy prostate and those with more than a slight amount of infection in the prostate are benefited by light prostatic massage once weekly and stilbestrol given in doses of 1 mg. twice daily. Severe infection is treated by chemotherapy and bladder irrigations.