Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedResults
By Mayo Clinic staffTransurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) improves urinary flow in most men. This procedure is generally more effective than medications at improving urine flow, but less effective than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or open prostatectomy. Some doctors consider TUMT the best choice among the all of the less invasive treatments available for enlarged prostate.
Several weeks may pass before you see a noticeable improvement in your urinary symptoms. That's because your body needs time to break down and absorb overgrown prostate tissue that's been destroyed by the microwave energy. Some men do need re-treatment in time, but more studies need to be done to determine the overall, long-term effectiveness of TUMT.
- Fitzpatrick JM, et al. Minimally invasive and endoscopic management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125743340-3/0/1445/91.html?tocnode=54305416&fromURL=91.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- AUA guideline on the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Baltimore, Md.: American Urological Association. http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/main-reports/bph-management/chapt_1_appendix.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- d'Ancona FC. Nonablative minimally invasive thermal therapies in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Current Opinion in Urology. 2008;18:21.
- Gravas S et al. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy: From evidence-based medicine to clinical practice. Current Opinion in Urology. 2007;17:12.
- Hoffman RM et al. Microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD004135.
- Cunningham GR, et al. Surgical and other invasive therapies of benign prostatic hyperplasia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.