Over than one year follow up of patients undergoing tuna

OBJECTIVE: To study the long term clinical efficacy of TUNA of the prostate for treatment of symptomatic BPH PATIENTS AND METHODS: 22 patients were treated with TUNA between 2/94 and 8/95 Selection criteria were international symptom score >13, peak urine <12 ml/sec, quality of life >3, prostate size <75 gr. residual volume <250cc. Patients were followed at 3 months intervals. RESULTS: Follow up ranged between 20 to 36 months. Two pts weie withdrawn before the 6 month follow up period: one had no symptomatic benefit and one had colon cancer. Of the 20 evaluable pts nine (45%) have been operated for abscence or disappearance of clinical improvement. The interval from TUNA treatment to BPH surgery averaged 18 months (range: 8-25) Five patient (25%) have been treated with alpha blockcrs for the relief of obstructing symptoms. The interval from TUNA treatment to the begining of the pharmacological treatment averaged 16 months, (range: 12-20). Although the patients failed to response to alpha blocker treatment pre TUNA, their response to such treatment post TUNA was exelent. Six patients (30%) maintained their clinical improvement following TUNA treatment. These group was followed for 20 to 36 months (average: 29 months). No serious complication? were noted. TUNA treatment had no adverse effect on the outcome of TURP No difference was found between the patients who had long term favorable outcome following TUNA treatment and the patients in whom treatment failed CONCLUSION TUNA treatment alone has long-term efficacy in only 30% of patients.