[Hyperthermia as a method for treating prostatic adenoma]

Local microwave hyperthermia was used in 15 patients aged 60 to 76 years with prostatic adenoma on an inpatient (n = 8) and outpatient (n = 7) basis. Severe clinical symptoms of prostatic adenoma was considered indication and urinary and prostatic stones were contraindications. Every patient received 6 hyperthermia treatments (41 to 42 degrees C) with a 915 or 460 MHz device. Adenoma of the prostate was treated twice a week. An interval of 3-4 days was used to avoid thermic tolerance. The treatments were well tolerated. Prostatic size was reduced by 15.2 cm2 in 11 patients and unchanged in 1 patient. Three patients required surgery 2 weeks after treatment withdrawal because of adenoma distension with residual urine and 3 patients were operated on for cystostomes. The overall effect of microwave hyperthermia on prostatic adenoma was induction of focal sclerosis in adenoma. This treatment improved uroflowmetric findings and abolished residual urine. Hyperthermia is a reasonably safe conservative option for inoperable patients with prostatic adenoma.