Transurethral microwave thermotherapy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia : Retrospective comparative study between 30 minutes and 60 minutes single treatment

Abstract

We evaluated the subjective and objective treatment results of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia and explored the difference between 30 minutes and 60 minutes single treatment retrospectively. Between June 1997 and March 2003, 58 men with BPH underwent TUMT using the TargisTM device. Twenty-seven and 31 patients received 60 and 30 minutes single treatment respectively. Evaluations after treatment included a clinical determination of the international prostate symptom score, urodynamic assessments by peak flow rate and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 60 minutes treatment, the symptom score significantly improved from 17.9 to 9.5 after 2 months. Similarly, there was a significant improvement in peak flow rate, from 6.7 to 11.2 mL/sec after 2 months. In 30 minutes treatment, the symptom score significantly improved from 18.4 to 13.4 after 2 weeks. Similarly, there was a significant improvement in peak flow rate, from 6.4 to 11.7 mL/sec after 1 month. MRI imaging showed a necrosis of the prostatic gland 2 weeks after treatment in all patients. These results demonstrated that both 60 and 30 minutes treatments were effective for patients with BPH. No severe complications were seen in both groups. Moreover 30 minutes treatments led sooner improvement rather than 60 minutes ones. Thirty minutes TUMT was considered to be recommendable therapeutic time in this treatment.