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 (TUNATM) 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 TUNATM 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 TUNATM procedure is a safe and efficacious treatment for symptomatic BPH.