Longitudinal Prostate Growth Rates During 5 Years in Randomly Selected Community Men 40 to 79 Years Old

PURPOSE: We estimate the rate of prostate growth in randomly selected healthy community dwelling men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate volume in an age stratified random sample of 631 white male residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota 40 to 79 years old without prior prostate surgery or prostate cancer was measured up to 4 times by transrectal ultrasound during a followup period of almost 7 years. RESULTS: Estimated prostate growth rates increased with increasing age. However, the estimated average annual change was 1.6% across all age groups. Estimated prostate growth rates were high depending on baseline prostate volume with higher growth rates for men with larger prostates. CONCLUSIONS: While there is wide variability in prostate growth rates on an individual level, prostate volume appears to increase steadily at about 1.6% per year in randomly selected community men.