[Transurethral microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia: clinical evaluation with International...

Forty patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with a single session of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using a Prostatron. The clinical effectiveness was evaluated by analyzing the subjective and objective responses following the treatment. The International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and quality of life (QOL) scale were used to evaluate the subjective symptoms. At three months after treatment, significant improvements in I-PSS (p < 0.0001). QOL (P < 0.0001), and peak flow rate (Qmax) (p < 0.05) were observed. Improvement of both I-PSS and Qmax was found in 90% (18/20) of the patients at 2 months. Although 15 patients noted transient urinary retention and 15 patients had mild to moderate macroscopic hematuria immediately after TUMT, no severe adverse effects occurred during the follow-up period. A significant correlation was found between I-PSS improvement and the total thermal dose delivered. However, the thermal dose could not be predicted in each case. The preliminary findings suggest that TUMT by Prostatron is safe and effective as a nonsurgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The clinical response seems to be thermal dose dependent. I-PSS is clinically sensitive and is useful in practice.