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±4.9ml/sec to 9.7±3.1ml/sec after 1 year (p<0.018). The average flow rate was increased from 4.39±2.5ml/sec to 5.87±2.61ml/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.
