[Anthropomorphic features of patients with tuberculosis of the prostate].

INTRODUCTION: Modern TB patient has lost the physical appearance (habitus phtisicus) typical for the previous years. Moreover, patients with different tuberculosis localizations also have different anthropomorphic characteristics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: To determine anthropomorphic characteristics of patients with tuberculosis of the prostate, several parameters were compared between 95 male patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 49 patients with prostatic tuberculosis.

RESULTS: Compared to pulmonary tuberculosis patients, patients with prostatic tuberculosis were significantly more likely to be overweight and have greater waist circumference. Among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, there were significantly more people of short or very tall stature, while patients with prostatic tuberculosis, on the contrary, were significantly more likely to be of average height (166-180 cm).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings regarding body structure of a patient with tuberculosis of the prostate (fat stocky man) could possibly reflect the presence of the metabolic syndrome that may account for the greater susceptibility to urogenital infections.