Prostatic urethral strictures after transurethral microwave thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Prostatic urethral strictures are rare. We present 3 cases in a study group of 27 who underwent high energy transurethral microwave therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. In all 3 cases, midprostatic strictures with ectopic area proximal to the stricture were seen by cystoscopy. Two of the strictures were urodynamically significant. The most likely explanation for their occurrence is direct damage of the prostatic urethra due to ischemia or heat damage of the prostatic urethra. UROLOGY 50: 983-985, 1997.