TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY VERSUS TRANSURETHRAL CATHETER THERAPY FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

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.