Revival of thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has long been held as the gold standard for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); however, there has been significant innovation in other less invasive alternative treatments for BPH in recent years. BPH treatment guidelines now recommend minimally invasive therapy be considered as a treatment option alongside TURP and medical management. Our purpose is to review the current evidence supporting the safety, effectiveness, and durability of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) as a minimal invasive technique.

Recent clinical studies of TUMT have provided significant evidence regarding safety, efficacy, and durability. TUMT has now become a minimally invasive office-based alternative to both standard TURP and medical therapy in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction and lower urinatry tract symptoms due to BPH.

TUMT treatment has improved with the advent of later generation devices. This well tolerated, effective, and durable therapy for the treatment of BPH has definitively found its place as one of the alternatives to TURP. Anestheisa-free outpatient capability, lack of sexual side-effects, and avoidance of actual surgery are attractive to patient and clinician alike. TUMT deserves reconsideration in clinical practices as a suitable treatment alternative to TURP and medical therapy.