Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is the expected finding during the prostatic exam of a patient with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)?

1. Prostate feels firm and uniformly enlarged

2. Prostate feels boggy and enlarged

3. Prostate feels harder than normal

4. Presence of tender nodules

The correct answer is: Prostate feels firm and uniformly enlarged

In the context of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the expected finding during a prostatic exam is that the prostate feels firm and uniformly enlarged. BPH is a common condition characterized by non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, which typically presents as a smooth and symmetrical enlargement upon examination. This uniform enlargement is due to hyperplastic changes in both the glandular and stromal tissues, leading to a firmer consistency without the irregularities or nodules associated with prostatic malignancy or other pathological conditions. The focus on firmness and uniform enlargement is important: it indicates a benign process rather than a malignancy or infection. In contrast to other options, which describe characteristics that would raise suspicion for more serious conditions (such as cancer with hardness, bacterial prostatitis with bogginess, or the presence of nodules suggestive of malignancy), the firm and symmetrical nature of the prostate in BPH is a hallmark finding that helps differentiate it from other disorders affecting the prostate.