Final answer:
The likely diagnosis for the 55-year-old man with urinary complications, difficult urination, elevated PSA, and hard nodules on the prostate is adenocarcinoma of the prostate. BPH can cause similar urinary symptoms but is less likely to present with hard nodules and high PSA levels. A definitive confirmation of prostate cancer would require a biopsy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 55-year-old man presenting with urinary complications, difficult urination, reduced urinary flow, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and palpable hard nodules on the prostate may be indicative of a medical condition affecting the prostate gland.
Considering the nature of his symptoms and examination findings—a hard nodule palpable upon examination and an elevated PSA level, the most likely diagnosis is adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) could present with similar urinary symptoms, but the presence of a palpable hard nodule and elevated PSA are more suggestive of cancer rather than BPH. Confirmatory diagnosis for prostate cancer would require a biopsy. Diagnosis of BPH typically involves a physical exam and symptoms assessment, as well as possibly ultrasound imaging but does not typically present with hard palpable nodules.
While both BPH and prostate cancer can present with urinary symptoms like reduced flow and difficulties with urination, the latter can often involve the formation of hard, palpable nodules on the prostate, as well as an elevated PSA, and possibly metastasize if aggressive. Early symptoms of prostate cancer include frequent urination, difficulty maintaining a steady urine stream, and painful urination. These symptoms alone are not sufficient for a cancer diagnosis; confirmation with a biopsy is required after detection of any anomalies during physical examination or elevated PSA levels.