title: [PLFT and TUMT long-term clinical results in Italy].
abstract: Microwaves are electromagnetic radiations with wavelengths ranging from 300 MHz (0.3 GHz) and 300 GHz. Microwaves treatment reduces prostate tissue using the heat produced by microwaves. When the tissue absorbs the energy from the microwaves it coagulates and tissue necrosis occours. During hyperthermia the intraprostatic temperatures reached 40-45 °C with symptomatic improvement due to destruction of the alpha-adrenergic nerve fibers around the prostate. The term 'thermotherapy' was therefore coined to describe treatment temperatures above 45°C and hyperthermia for those below this level. Unlike thermotherapy, high-energy (thermotherapy) can achieve temperatures greater than 70°C (158°F), causing thermoablation of prostatic tissue. The authors report their experience with PLFT over a period of 8 years. They describe the technique of the treatment, the goal and its results. Many of these patients, however, were older, had a larger prostate volume, and had more surgical comorbidities, making this subset more likely to benefit from a minimally invasive option. With PLFT-TUMT, patients have a less-invasive therapy, with a catheter-free rate of 82-91% in selected patients, although the majority must also continue medical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Urologia, Az.Usl Parma, Italy. asavino@ausl.pr.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uliano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnaudi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benecchi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potenzoni
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000379:methods