A 52-year-old male presents complaining of urinary frequency, with hesitancy, and nocturia for the past few months. During his physical examination, you note a nontender, non-enlarged prostate with an isolated right posterior lobe nodule. Which of the following options is most appropriate?
- Order a serum acid phosphatase level
- Initiate prazosin and schedule a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks
- Refer the patient for an ultrasound of the prostate and order a PSA level
- Reassure the patient and schedule a follow-up appointment in six months
- initiate norfloxacin therapy for 7 days and schedule follow-up in two weeks
Answer: C
Refer the patient for an ultrasound of the prostate and order a PSA level
This patient has an isolated nodule of the prostate gland — cancer until proven otherwise. You should order an ultrasound and a PSA. BPH will present as a diffuse enlargement, and not a discrete nodule.
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