Minimally invasive procedures and medical management-their relative merits in treating lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Evidence is reviewed supporting the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive transurethral microwave thermotherapy and medical management in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recent data indicate more pronounced long-term beneficial effects of microwave treatment. alpha-Blockade, however, offers more rapid onset of action than does microwave treatment. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant alpha-blocker therapy can accelerate symptom and flow rate improvement in patients undergoing microwave treatment. Compared with medical management, microwave treatment also appears to possess greater versatility, allowing patients who fall within a broad range of baseline symptom severities and prostate sizes to be treated with a high probability of success.