Final answer:
Prostatitis involves inflammation of the prostate gland, typically due to an infection, and is not related to the presence of stones, whereas prostate cancer is a tumor that is the most common type of cancer in men. Both conditions affect the prostate gland and may present with urination issues but have different origins and treatments. Kidney stones are solid mineral crystals that may cause similar symptoms but are unrelated to the prostate.
Step-by-step explanation:
While prostatitis does involve the prostate gland, it is not synonymous with the presence of stones but rather indicates inflammation of the prostate, which can be caused by a bacterial infection or other factors. It is a distinct condition from prostate cancer, which is a tumor in the prostate gland of the male reproductive system and represents the most common type of cancer in men. Unlike prostatitis, prostate cancer may not present with immediate symptoms but is often detected through medical history, blood tests, and a rectal exam. If symptoms of prostate cancer do occur, they often involve issues with urination.
Diseases of the prostate can also mimic the symptoms of other disorders of the male reproductive system, such as epididymitis, which is inflammation of the epididymis normally caused by a bacterial infection. Both conditions require medical treatment to prevent complications, including the risk of infertility in the case of epididymitis. Kidney stones, on the other hand, are solid crystals formed from minerals in the urine that can cause obstruction and pain in the urinary tract and are not directly related to prostatitis or prostate cancer.