What medical condition is characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland?

The medical condition characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland is prostatitis. This condition can arise from various causes, including bacterial infections, which may lead to acute prostatitis, or it can be chronic, often without an identifiable infectious etiology. Symptoms commonly associated with prostatitis include pelvic pain, painful urination, difficulty urinating, and discomfort during ejaculation.

Prostate cancer refers to the presence of malignant cells in the prostate and does not inherently involve inflammation of the gland itself. Benign prostatic hyperplasia involves the enlargement of the prostate gland but is not characterized by inflammation. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is considered a precancerous condition involving changes in the cells of the prostate, and it does not directly indicate inflammation. Therefore, prostatitis is distinctly recognized by its inflammatory nature, making it the accurate answer in this context.