Interstitial Laser Therapy

Abstract

Interstitial laser therapy or coagulation is a relatively new, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recent articles on interstitial laser coagulation have demonstrated safety and effectiveness, compared it with other benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment approaches, demonstrated new application devices, and outlined some basic techniques for performing the procedure. Current approaches include comparison with alternative therapies, techniques for shortening treatment time, comparisons of various laser energy sources, optimization of indication, and the combination of interstitial laser coagulation with other benign prostatic hyperplasia treatments for optimal effects. This article will review recent work on these subjects and discuss avenues for future research in the field of interstitial laser therapy.