Purpose: To evaluate the use of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) as a treatment option for patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with prostate volumes of 80 cc and more.
Materials and methods: The study included 75 patients with high anesthesia-related risks for conventional surgery (TURP). All patients were surveyed for symptom burden, using IPSS and quality of life score. The prostate volume was determined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). At baseline, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was obtained in all patients. Urodynamics was evaluated using uroflowmetry. Clinical outcomes were assessed at follow-up 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after PAE.
Results: The prostate volume decreased significantly at months 1 and 3 post-treatment; the prostate continued shrinking until month 12, and the size was then stabilized. At month 24, prostate volume decreased by 40.82%, from 134.0 ± 8.3 mL at baseline to 79.3 ± 6.6 mL. Postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume was significantly decreased from 55.9 ± 5.3 mL to 22.0 ± 1.8 mL 1 month after PAE (p < 0.001). Qmax increased from 9.2 ± 0.3 mL/s to 15.7 ± 0.4 mL/s. IPSS score following PAE decreased from 28.2 ± 0.7 to 9.7 ± 0.8 (p < 0.001). QoL improvement was observed from 4.8 ± 0.2 at baseline to 1.8 ± 0.2 at month 24 (p < 0.001). Decreased activity and density of adenomatous tissue resulted in decreased total PSA levels: from 5.9 ± 1.1 ng/mL to 2.6 ± 0.2 ng/mL (p < 0.001). TURP became feasible in 35 patients due to reduction of prostate volumes below 80 mL after PAE.
Conclusions: PAE was effective in relieving LUTS and reducing prostate size, and may be considered as a preoperative approach for patients with large prostate.
Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; microspheres; prostatic artery embolization; superselective catheterization; transurethral resection of the prostate.