Definition of Cure - - - Working Draft Proposal Modified 3/18/02 I still believe that it is important to try to reach a consensus for a definition of cure for chronic prostatitis.  Therefore, _base_d on the constructive suggestions which I have received, I have modified the definition which I posted on this newsgroup a couple of days ago (3/16/02): ************************************************************* I. ) Symptoms:           He should have no symptoms for a period of 5 years.  II.) Physical Findings:           His prostate exam should be normal (DRE).  It should not be enlarged.  It should not be boggy.   It should not be tender.  It should be symmetric (left lobe compared to the right lobe). III.) Laboratory:           A.) His expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) should have no signs of inflammation - - - no white blood cells, no prostatic inflammatory aggregates (PIAs), and no squamaoid cells (reactive urethral cells).  His EPS should be examined for these on at least two occasions, at least one month apart, by a cyto-pathologist with experience diagnosing chronic prostatitis from EPS.           B.) His EPS should not contain and bacteria or other micro-organisms.  Again, his EPS should be examined these on at least two occasions, at least one month apart, by a microbiology laboratory skilled in isolating organisms from the EPS of patients with chronic prostatitis. *************************************************************** Points for discussion: 1.) Do we need a definition of cure ???  Some patients believe that it is impossible to ever cure prostatitis.  In other words, they believe that once they have contracted prostatitis,  they will always have it, even if they have absolutely no symptoms. 2.) Is it sufficient to _base_ the definition of cure only on symptoms ??? Or, should the definition also include physical findings and/or laboratory results (II and III above) ??? 3.) What period should the definition include ???  Two years completely free of symptoms?  Five years?  Longer?  Shorter? In between? 4.) If the condition of the prostate gland (II above) is to be included in the definition of cure , is it sufficient to only use a DRE exam ???  Or, should the physical exam be confirmed by an ultrasound examination? CT scan? MRI? Electron beam?  Etc.? 5.) If laboratory testing is the be included in the definition of cure, what test should be included ??? ************************************************************************ I would appreciate any suggestions regarding this definition of cure . Yours, John W. Polacheck, M.D. Tucson, Arizona ************************************************************************** jpolach...@earth_link_.net (E-mail address) 520-622-4599 (work telephone number) 520-903-9972 (FAX)