Heat therapy in the treatment of prostatitis.
There is a dearth of literature on heat therapy and prostatitis. The therapies used different energy sources, including interstitial heat and microwaves, and were delivered both transrectally and transurethrally. Most data precede our present system of nomenclature and therefore are difficult to compare, even with the literature of their day. Validated instruments were rarely used to determine efficacy, and most outcome measures were subjective. We will need well-designed prospective clinical trials using objective outcome measures and validated symptom indexes. Until then the use of heat therapy for prostatitis should be considered experimental.
Zeitlin
Scott I
SI
Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. szeitlin@ucla.edu
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods