D. Mulvin et al., TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY VERSUS TRANSURETHRAL CATHETER THERAPY FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA, European urology, 26(1), 1994, pp. 6-9
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) is a single outpatient tr
eatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. It produces good symptomatic
relief but minimal objective improvement in mean flow rates. We wishe
d to evaluate the placebo effect of the transurethral catheter. We eva
luated 40 patients with outflow obstruction, 20 had TUMT for 1 h and 2
0 had a catheter placed in the urethra without treatment for 1 h. Urin
ary flow rates improved in both groups (12.8-14.6 with TUMT, 10.0-12.4
with catheter). Significant reduction from pretreatment values occurr
ed in symptom scores and postvoid residual urine volume in both groups
following treatment. The subjective results of TUMT and the placebo e
ffect seen in the catheter group cast doubt on our understanding of th
e mechanism of action of TUMT.