title: Interstitial laser therapy outcomes in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: Two hundred thirty-nine patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated using interstitial laser coagulation (ILC or LITT; laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy), and the long-term results were determined. In this minimally invasive procedure, special laser light guides were inserted into the adenoma tissue in order to achieve primary large-volume coagulation necrosis and secondary shrinking, leaving the urethra intact. The AUA Symptom Scores improved markedly, from an average of 25 pretreatment to an average of 6 at 1 year. Peak urine flow rates improved commensurably, from 8 mL/sec pretreatment to 18 mL/sec at 1 year. Postoperative irritative symptoms occurred occasionally, affecting only 12% of patients. Significant complications were rare, with 4% of patients suffering strictures and 7% retrograde ejaculation. No patients suffered impotence or incontinence. Only 9.6% of patients required retreatment for BPH during 12 months of follow-up. Twelve patients were treated with subsequent transurethral laser incision of the bladder neck in order to shorten the time required for improvement of voiding function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muschter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome