Efficacy of transurethral needle ablation of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) of the prostate for treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as one institute participating in a Japanese clinical trial.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with symptomatic BPH were treated with the TUNA procedure in our institute. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, residual urine volume (RV), prostate volume (PV) and peak urinary flow rates (Qmax) were measured and complications were assessed.

RESULTS

We followed and evaluated 30 of the 33 cases. At 12 months there were significant improvements in the IPSS (20.7 to 11.2, P < 0.0001), QOL score (4.9 to 2.1, P < 0.0001), RV (46.6 to 22.6 mL, P < 0.01), PV (37.8 to 30.0 mL3, P < 0.002) and Qmax (8.00 to 11.0 mL/s, P < 0.002). There were no serious complications.

CONCLUSION

This trial shows that the TUNA procedure is a safe and efficacious treatment for symptomatic BPH.