[Transurethral microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia]

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) of prostate was administered to 10 patients with bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. The mean age of the patients was 74.4 years (range 63 to 85). The Prostatron device, which provides microwave heating of the prostate and conductive cooling of the urethra was used, and the prostate was heated with a calculated intraprostatic temperature of 45.5 degrees C for 55 minutes. No anesthesia was required for most of the patients. The clinical effects were evaluated at 4-6 weeks and 3 months after treatment. The symptomatic scores improved in the majority of patients. There was no significant change in prostate volume. The maximum flow rate and average flow rate were increased at 6 weeks and 3 months, but there was no significant change. The only side effects were transient hematuria and short-term obstruction secondary to urethral edema. In comparing TUMT with the transurethral resection of prostate (TUR-P), the maximum flow rate after TUMT was lower than that after TUR-P and the improvement of residual urine after TUMT was lower than that after TUR-P.