Studies on the three-dimensional temperature transients in the canine prostate during transurethral microwave thermal therapy

Thermal therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia requires accurate predictio n of the temperature distribution induced by the heating within the prostat ic tissue. In this study, the Pennes bioheat transfer equation was used to model the transient heat transfer inside the canine prostate during transur ethral microwave thermal therapy. Incorporating the specific absorption rat e of microwave energy in tissue, a closed-form analytical solution was obta ined. Good agreement was found between the theoretical predictions and in-v ivo experimental results. Effects of blood perfusion and the cooling at the urethral wall on the temperature rise were investigated within the prostat e during heating. The peak intraprostatic temperatures attained by applicat ion of 5, 10, or 15 W microwave power were predicted to be 38 degreesC, 41 degreesC, and 44 degreesC. Results from this study will help optimize the t hermal dose that can be applied to target tissue during the therapy. [S0148 -0731(00)01004-9].