title: Long-term results of lower energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluate long-term results of lower energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy (Prostasoft 2.0*) and identify pretreatment characteristics that predict a favorable outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 1990 and December 1992, 231 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were treated with lower energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy. Subjective and objective voiding parameters were collected from medical records and a self-administered questionnaire. Kaplan-Meier plots were constructed to assess the risk of re-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients 41% underwent invasive re-treatment within 5 years of followup and 17% were re-treated with medication. The re-treatment-free period was somewhat longer in patients with a peak flow rate greater than 10 ml. per second, a Madsen score 15 or less, a post-void residual volume 100 ml. or less and age greater than 65 years at baseline. Prostate volume did not modify the outcome. No incontinence was caused by transurethral microwave thermotherapy, 8% had recurrent urinary tract infection and 8% had retrograde ejaculation. Only 1 patient had a urethral stricture after transurethral microwave thermotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 5 years after transurethral microwave thermotherapy 41% of the patients received instrumental treatment. Patients with a lower Madsen score and lower residual volume, and those with higher peak flow and age were somewhat better responders to lower energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Keijzers
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Francisca
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: D'Ancona
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kiemeney
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Debruyne
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de la Rosette
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome