Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is an emerging, novel interventional technique in the management of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a common clinical condition in middle-aged and elderly men resulting in LUTS, including nocturia, urinary frequency, urgency, decreased urinary flow rates, hesitancy, and incomplete bladder emptying. Traditionally, LUTSs have been managed by medical or surgical therapies. Since the initial incidental discovery that selective PAE performed for uncontrolled bleeding secondary to BPH resulted in improved LUTS, the technique has continually evolved with a growing body of evidence supporting its safety and efficacy. However, despite the available data, PAE has yet to be established as a standard-of-care treatment option for patients with LUTS/BPH. In this article, the authors review the history and current state of PAE, including published data from case reports, animal studies, retrospective/prospective cohort studies, and prospective randomized controlled trials.
Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; embolization; imaging; interventional radiology; prostate; urinary tract.