Effectiveness and Predictive Value of Responsiveness of the Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Yi, Jeong Won; Kim, Jin Il; Jeon, Seung Hyun

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and durability of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, the useful clinical factors were retrospectively investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between September 1997 and July 2003, 113 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with TUMT (Prostatron with Prostasoft 2.5). 64 patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Treatment outcomes were evaluated by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score and by urodynamic investigation. The patients were divided into responders and non-responders on the basis of their response evaluation criteria.
RESULTS
The mean IPSS, QoL score, peak flow rate, mean flow rate and post-voiding residual volume were significantly improved after TUMT (p<0.05). The pretreatment QoL score of the responders was significantly lower than that of the non-responders (p<0.05), and peak and average flow rates of the responders were significantly higher than those of the non-responders (p<0.05). Lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA), lower residual volume and higher energy had trends toward a good prognosis (0.05CONCLUSIONS
TUMT could be an effective and safe method for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Predictive baseline parameters for a good response were a lower QoL score and higher flow rate. However, further studies on the long-term outcome and predictive factors are necessary.