Prostatitis: the last frontier.

Prostatitis, the neglected third disease (after benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer) is the last frontier of prostate disease. Innovative new research and clinical initiatives have revived urologists' interest in this difficult and frustrating disease. New funding initiatives, industry interest and powerful patient lobby groups have put this long-neglected syndrome back on the urologic agenda. Presented here is an inventory of what is and is not known about prostatitis. It is based on a review of the literature, undisputed facts, solid hypotheses, and common sense. Also offered is a series of personal challenges to the urologic community. As we enter the twenty-first century we must develop a rational management strategy for patients who present with symptoms of prostatitis.