RESUMO
Objective Though systemic prostatic cancer disease eventually results in the patient's death; locally advanced disease may be associated with severe morbidity. The therapeutic options currently available include hormonal manipulation; radiotherapy or transurethral resection. Previous reports have suggested that local prostatic hyperthermia may have a dramatic effect on local and systemic malignant disease. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) on locally advanced prostate cancer. Patients and Methods The study included 30 patients suffering from various degrees of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer. TUMT was delivered using the Prostalund machine (Lund Science - Sweden) weekly for 6 weeks. Transurethral heating was achieved via a Foley urethral catheter provided with microwave antenna; temperature sensors and cooling channels. The rectal temperature was monitored via rectal thermosensors mounted on a specially designed rectal probe. All the patients were evaluated before and after treatment; at 1 month; at 3 months and at 1 year. Results The mean pretreatment Boyarsky symptom score was 13.73 + 4.15. At 1 month; 3 months and 1 year follow up the mean Boyarsky symptom score was 8.73 + 4.14 (P=0.0001); 9.09+3.71 (P