To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: AUA: Thermatrx Microwave Thermotherapy an Option for Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/21E20E.htm Doctor's Guide September 19, 2002
By Lara Pullen Special to DG News CHICAGO, IL -- September 19, 2002 -- The Thermatrx TMx™ microwave thermotherapy system appears to be effective in reducing the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The TMx-2000 system is a relatively new form of periurethral transurethral microwave thermotherapy that utilizes lower levels of energy than other microwave thermotherapies. The system is minimally invasive and can be performed outpatient procedure that uses heat delivered through a microwave antenna to destroy obstructive prostate tissue The technology is based on the discovery that cooling (a typical aspect of thermotherapy) is not required for efficacy or patient tolerance. Dr. Nuzzarello, of Urology Associates of DuPage, in Wheaton, Illinois, presented the results of the Food and Drug Assocation (FDA) premarket approval application study for Thermatrx here today at the 76th Annual Meeting of the North Central Section of the American Urology Association. He described Thermatrx as "an interesting new twist on microwave therapy that should be considered [for patients with BPH]." In their one-year blinded, randomised study, Dr. Nuzzarello and colleagues included 121 patients who underwent the Thermatrx procedure and 62 patients who underwent a sham procedure. All patients were over the age of 50 years, had American Urology Association (AUA) symptom scores greater than 12, and had experienced symptoms for more than one year. The Thermatrx patients achieved a 45 percent reduction in AUA symptom score at three months post-treatment, and a 47 percent decrease at 12 months, compared to baseline. In addition, Thermatrx patients had a 51 percent increase in their peak flow rate at 12 months post-therapy. "We all have patients on the internet waiting for the next best thing. Well, I think this might be it," Dr. Nuzzarello concluded. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.