Differential Diagnosis for BPH Symptoms with Lightheadedness
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with orthostatic hypotension: This is the most likely diagnosis as BPH can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as urinary frequency, urgency, and weak stream, and orthostatic hypotension can cause lightheadedness due to a drop in blood pressure when standing up.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Overactive Bladder (OAB) with medication side effects: OAB can cause urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence, and some medications used to treat OAB can cause lightheadedness as a side effect.
- Urinary Retention with autonomic dysfunction: Urinary retention can cause LUTS and autonomic dysfunction can cause lightheadedness due to abnormal blood pressure regulation.
- Dehydration with urinary frequency: Dehydration can cause lightheadedness and urinary frequency, which can be mistaken for BPH symptoms.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Prostate Cancer: Although less likely, prostate cancer can cause LUTS similar to BPH and lightheadedness due to anemia or other paraneoplastic syndromes.
- Spinal Cord Injury or Compression: Spinal cord injury or compression can cause LUTS, lightheadedness, and other neurological symptoms, and is a medical emergency.
- Autonomic Dysfunction due to Neurodegenerative Disease: Neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple system atrophy or Parkinson's disease can cause autonomic dysfunction, leading to lightheadedness and LUTS.
Rare Diagnoses
- Pheochromocytoma: A rare tumor that can cause episodic hypertension, lightheadedness, and LUTS due to catecholamine excess.
- Multiple System Atrophy with Urinary Dysfunction: A rare neurodegenerative disease that can cause autonomic dysfunction, urinary dysfunction, and lightheadedness.
- Neurogenic Bladder due to Diabetic Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy can cause neurogenic bladder, leading to LUTS and lightheadedness due to autonomic dysfunction.