Transurethral microwave thermotherapy with prostatron for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Since February 1993, 99 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia have been treated with transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using the Prostatron device. The International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and quality of life (QOL) score were used to evaluate subjective symptoms. Four weeks after treatment, I-PSS (10.8 ± 6.7) was much lower than baseline (20.1±7.0) and 6 months and 1 year later, this score was maintained at significantly low level (p<0.0001). QOL score showed same tendency as the I-PSS. The peak flow rate significantly increased from 8.9 ±4.9 ml/sec to 9.7 ± 3.1ml/sec after 1 year (p<0.018). The average flow rate was increased from 4.39 ± 2.5 ml/sec to 5.87 ± 2.61 ml/sec after 8 weeks then gradually decreased, though it remained significantly high after 1 year. Residual urine volumes significantly decreased after 1 year. Subjective and objective parameters were also well maintained for 1 year after treatment. These results indicated that TUMT is an alternative treatment to surgery for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. © 1997, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.