HIGH-INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND IN THE TREATMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Objective To assess the role of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIF U) in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients and methods Thirteen patients (mean age 65 years. range 55-7 4) were treated with HIFU as part of a phase-2 clinical trial and eval uated prospectively using the International Prostate Symptom Score, ur oflowmetry, and transrectal and transabdominal ultrasonography to dete rmine prostate size and post-void residual urine volume, respectively. The results and the patients' satisfaction were assessed at regular i ntervals for 2 years. Results The new procedure was learned quickly an d was easy to perform, Symptom scores decreased from a mean of 23 befo re treatment to 5 after 12 months and 7 after 2 years. There was an in itial improvement in now rates but they then declined. The size of the prostate and the post-void residual volume were both decreased after treatment. Conclusions The treatment is safe, easy to implement and wa s effective in substantially reducing symptom scores in these few pati ents. However, we would not encourage its use as an alternative to oth er well established treatment modalities until it has been assessed fu lly in a randomized trial.