LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY

Objectives. To evaluate the long-term results of transurethral microwa ve thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with up to 5 years of follow-up at our institution. Methods. From October 199 1 to November 1993, 106 patients were treated for BPH with TUMT using the Prostatron 2.0. Of the 106 patients, 64 were available for evaluat ion of symptoms (Madsen-Iverson score), uroflow, residual urine, and r etreatment rate at a mean follow-up of 50 +/- 5.4 months (mean +/- SD) . Results. The mean age of the patients was 65.2 +/- 9.8 years. Thirty -two patients (50.0%) were treated with one session of TUMT. Additiona l treatments were required for 32 patients (50.0%). Three patients had two sessions of TUMT, 14 underwent transurethral resection of prostat e, and 3 had laser prostatectomy. Twelve patients received medical the rapy. The mean symptom score decreased significantly from 12.9 +/- 2.5 to 5.7 +/- 3.6 (P = 0.001). The mean peak flow rates and postvoid res idual volume showed little difference before and after TUMT. On the ba sis of the criteria described by Poincelet and Cathaud the overall cli nical efficacy rate was 39.1% (15.6% complete response and 23.5% parti al response). No obvious clinical parameter was useful to predict favo rable outcome after TUMT. Conclusions. The present study showed that t he efficacy rate of TUMT with the Prostatron 2.0 at 50 months was 39.1 %. None of the preoperative clinical/factors was predictive of a favor able outcome. (C) 1998,Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.