A Numerical Study of Microwave Thermotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Transurethral resection of the prostate is the conventional therapy used for relieving bladder-outflow obstruction that typically occurs in older men due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Due to the complications and side effects involved, other therapies that are less invasive have been in use over the last few years. The current study examines one such therapy, namely, the transurethral thermal therapy, and its effectiveness as a treatment modality for BPH. The system considered here is capable of delivering microwave energy preferentially into the prostatic tissue. The heat generated inductively increases the temperature of the tissue to well above 40°C and causes necrosis when applied for adequate times. As both heating times and temperatures dictate the process, a transient analysis of the Pennes bio-heat transfer equation was performed for applicable parameter values. Based on the calculated temperature distributions, necrosis zones are estimated using the existing cell-death data and possible heating protocols are suggested.