Heat energy from microwaves is currently used in the treatment of enlarged prostate glands, or benign prostatic hypertropy (BPH). BPH can cause difficulty in urinating by obstructing urine flow from the bladder. The procedure - transurethral microwave thermotherapy or TUMT - requires no anesthesia and can be performed in the office in less than 30 minutes. The microwave device, called Coretherm, uses a small catheter with an antenna at the tip which is passed through the urethra and into the prostate. The antenna emits microwave energy which destroys the obstructing portion of the prostate. A computer controls the prostate temperature by circulating water through the catheter, thereby protecting the tissue near the prostate gland. This new treatment may be used instead of medical therapy (Cardura, Hytrin, Flomax, or Uroxatral) or as the next step in patients who fail to improve on medication. West Florida Urology is currently a teaching center for this procedure.

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