Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Transperineal Laser Ablation in BPH: A 12-Month Retrospective Analysis
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Participants
2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
2.3. TPLA Procedure (EchoLaser™-Based Protocol)
2.4. Follow-Up and Evaluation Parameters
- -
- Procedure duration (minutes);
- -
- Pain intensity (VAS score);
- -
- Total energy applied (Joules);
- -
- Number of laser fibers used;
- -
- Serum PSA level (ng/mL);
- -
- International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS);
- -
- Maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax, mL/s);
- -
- Post-void residual urine volume (PVR, mL);
- -
- Total prostate and adenoma volume (MRI, mL);
- -
- Quality of life (QoL) score;
- -
- International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5);
- -
- Male Sexual Health Questionnaire—Ejaculatory Dysfunction (MSHQ-ED) and Bother (MSHQ-Bother) scores;
- -
- Volume of necrosis after TPLA (MRI);
- -
- Postoperative complications such as hematuria, dysuria, prostate abscess, and other adverse events were monitored throughout the follow-up period.
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Baseline Characteristics
3.2. Procedural Characteristics
3.3. Functional and Anatomical Outcomes
- IPSSs decreased from a median of 30 at baseline to 13 at 12 months (p < 0.001).
- Qmax improved from 5.5 mL/s to 13.0 mL/s (p = 0.002).
- PVR was reduced from 200 mL to 85 mL (p < 0.001).
- Total prostate volume decreased from 68 mL to 40 mL (p = 0.020), and adenoma volume from 36 mL to 15 mL (p < 0.001).
- The QoL score improved significantly, from a median of 4 to 2 (p < 0.001).
3.4. Sexual Function and Changes in Treatment Requirements
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
BPH | Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia |
LUTS | Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms |
TRUS | Transrectal Ultrasonography |
MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Qmax | Maximum Urinary Flow Rate |
IPSS | International Prostate Symptom Score |
PVR | Post-Void Residual Urine Volume |
TPLA | Transperineal Laser Ablation |
UDS | Urodynamic Studies |
PSA | Prostate-Specific Antigen |
QoL | Quality of Life |
IIEF-5 | International Index of Erectile Function |
MSHQ-ED | Male Sexual Health Questionnaire for Ejaculatory Dysfunction |
VAS | Visual Analog Scale |
IQR | Interquartile Range |
References
- Parsons, J.K. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Epidemiology and Risk Factors. Curr. Bladder Dysfunct. Rep. 2010, 5, 212–218. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Calogero, A.E.; Burgio, G.; Condorelli, R.A.; Cannarella, R.; La Vignera, S. Epidemiology and risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction. Aging Male 2019, 22, 12–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Roehrborn, C.G. Current medical therapies for men with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia: Achievements and limitations. Rev. Urol. 2008, 10, 14–25. [Google Scholar]
- Zhang, J.; Li, X.; Yang, B.; Wu, C.; Fan, Y.; Li, H. Alpha-blockers with or without phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J. Urol. 2019, 37, 143–153. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chapple, C.R. Lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction--Triumph: Design and implementation. Eur Urol. 2001, 39 (Suppl. S3), 31–36. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chughtai, B.I.; Simma-Chiang, V.; Lee, R.; Isaacs, A.; Te, A.E.; Kaplan, S.A.; Sedrakyan, A. Trends and utilization of laser prostatectomy in ambulatory surgical procedures for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in New York State (2000–2011). J. Endourol. 2015, 29, 700–706. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bhatt, N.R.; Davis, N.F.; Witjes, W.P.; Bjartell, A.; Caris, C.; Patel, A.; de la Taille, A.; Tubaro, A. Quality of life with pharmacological treatment in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: Results from the Evolution European Prospective Multicenter Multi-National Registry Study. World J. Urol. 2021, 39, 517–526. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stojanović, N.; Ignjatović, I.; Djenić, N.; Bogdanović, D. Adverse effects of pharmacological therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia on sexual function in men. Srp. Arh. Celok. Lek. 2015, 143, 284–289. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Magistro, G.; Chapple, C.R.; Elhilali, M.; Gilling, P.; McVary, K.T.; Roehrborn, C.G.; Stief, C.G.; Woo, H.H.; Gratzke, C. Emerging minimally invasive treatment options for male lower urinary tract symptoms. Eur. Urol. 2017, 72, 986–997. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Westwood, J.; Geraghty, R.; Jones, P.; Rai, B.P.; Somani, B.K. Rezum: A new transurethral water vapour therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ther. Adv. Urol. 2018, 10, 327–333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Frego, N.; Saita, A.; Casale, P.; Diana, P.; Contieri, R.; Avolio, P.P.; Lazzeri, M.; Hurle, R.; Buffi, N.M.; Guazzoni, G.F.; et al. Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of ultrasound-guided transperineal laser ablation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A single institutional experience. World J. Urol. 2021, 39, 3867–3873. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- de Rienzo, G.; Lorusso, A.; Minafra, P.; Zingarelli, M.; Papapicco, G.; Lucarelli, G.; Battaglia, M.; Ditonno, P. Transperineal interstitial laser ablation of the prostate, a novel option for minimally invasive treatment of benign prostatic obstruction. Eur. Urol. 2021, 80, 95–103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Patelli, G.; Ranieri, A.; Paganelli, A.; Mauri, G.; Pacella, C.M. Transperineal laser ablation for percutaneous treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A feasibility study. Cardiovasc. Interv. Radiol. 2017, 40, 1440–1446. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cai, H.-J.; Fang, J.-H.; Kong, F.-L.; Xu, C.-K.; Chen, C.-H.; Wang, W.; Huang, B. Ultrasound-guided transperineal laser ablation for percutaneous treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A new minimally invasive interventional therapy. Acta Radiol. 2022, 63, 553–558. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pacella, C.M.; Patelli, G.; Iapicca, G.; Manenti, G.; Perretta, T.; Ryan, C.P.; Esposito, R.; Mauri, G. Transperineal laser ablation for percutaneous treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A feasibility study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2020, 23, 356–363. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Laganà, A.; Di Lascio, G.; Di Blasi, A.; Licari, L.C.; Tufano, A.; Flammia, R.S.; De Carolis, A. Ultrasound-guided SoracteLite™ transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) of the prostate for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): A prospective single-center experience. World J. Urol. 2023, 41, 1157–1162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- van Kollenburg, R.A.A.; van Riel, L.A.M.J.G.; Bloemen, P.R.; Oddens, J.R.; de Reijke, T.M.; Beerlage, H.P.; de Bruin, D.M. Transperineal laser ablation treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic obstruction: Protocol for a prospective in vivo pilot study. JMIR Res. Protoc. 2020, 9, e15687. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Meneghetti, I.; Giardino, D.; Morganti, R.; Marino, V.; Fabris, F.M.; Bartoletti, R.; Pinzi, N. A single-operator experience using EchoLaser SoracteLiteTM for focal laser ablation of prostate cancer: One more arrow in the quiver for the conservative management of the disease. Arch. Ital. Urol. Androl. 2022, 94, 406–412. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Walser, E.M.; Zimmerer, R.; Nance, A.; Masood, I.; Saleem, A. Anatomic and clinical effects of focal laser ablation of the prostate on symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cancers 2025, 17, 475. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Manenti, G.; Nezzo, M.; Ryan, C.P.; Fraioli, F.R.; Carreri, B.; Gigliotti, P.E.; Angeloni, C.; Di Pietro, F.; De Angeli, M.; Perretta, T.; et al. Transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) with ultrasound/MRI fusion guidance in the treatment of localized radiotherapy-resistant prostate cancer. BJR Open 2023, 5, 20230042. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sessa, F.; Polverino, P.; Bisegna, C.; Siena, G.; Re, M.L.; Spatafora, P.; Pecoraro, A.; Rivetti, A.; Conte, F.L.; Cocci, A.; et al. Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate with EchoLaser™ system: Perioperative and short-term functional and sexual outcomes. Front. Urol. 2022, 2, 969208. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sessa, F.; Mazzone, E.; Bientinesi, R.; Ferrari, M.; Dell’Oglio, P.; Fiori, C.; Manenti, G.; Miano, R.; De Nunzio, C. Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate (TPLA) for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic obstruction: A multicentric prospective study from the TPLA-Italia Group. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 793. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Meng, F.; Gao, B.; Fu, Q.; Chen, J.; Liu, Y.; Shi, B.; Xu, Z. Change of sexual function in patients before and after Ho:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate. J. Androl. 2007, 28, 259–261. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Chung, D.E.; Wysock, J.S.; Lee, R.K.; Melamed, S.R.; Kaplan, S.A.; Te, A.E. Outcomes and complications after 532 nm laser prostatectomy in anticoagulated patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. J. Urol. 2011, 186, 977–981. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gilling, P.; Anderson, P.; Tan, A. Aquablation of the prostate for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: 1-year results. J. Urol. 2017, 197, 1565–1572. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Roehrborn, C.G.; Siami, P.; Barkin, J.; Damião, R.; Major-Walker, K.; Nandy, I.; Morrill, B.B.; Gagnier, R.P.; Montorsi, F. The effects of combination therapy with dutasteride and tamsulosin on clinical outcomes in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: 4-year results from the CombAT study. Eur. Urol. 2010, 57, 123–131. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Braeckman, J.; Denis, L. Management of BPH then 2000 and now 2016—From BPH to BPO. Asian J. Urol. 2017, 4, 138–147. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Manenti, G.; Perretta, T.; Calcagni, A.; Ferrari, D.; Ryan, C.P.; Fraioli, F.; Meucci, R.; Malizia, A.; Iacovelli, V.; Agrò, E.F.; et al. 3-T MRI and clinical validation of ultrasound-guided transperineal laser ablation of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eur. Radiol. Exp. 2021, 5, 41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bach, T.; Giannakis, I.; Bachmann, A.; Fiori, C.; Gomez-Sancha, F.; Herrmann, T.R.W.; Netsch, C.; Rieken, M.; Scoffone, C.M.; Tunc, L.; et al. Aquablation of the prostate: Single-center results of a non-selected, consecutive patient cohort. World J. Urol. 2019, 37, 1369–1375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tafuri, A.; Panunzio, A.; De Carlo, F.; Luperto, E.; Di Cosmo, F.; Cavaliere, A.; Rizzo, M.; Tian, Z.; Shakir, A.; De Mitri, R.; et al. Transperineal Laser Ablation for Benign Prostatic Enlargement: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Pilot Studies. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 1860. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Re, M.L.; Polverino, P.; Rivetti, A.; Pecoraro, A.; Saladino, M.; Pezzoli, M.; Siena, G.; De Nunzio, C.; Marzi, V.L.; Gacci, M.; et al. Transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) of the prostate for benign prostatic obstruction: The first 100 patients cohort of a prospective, single-center study. World J. Urol. 2024, 42, 402. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pisco, J.M.; Bilhim, T.; Costa, N.V.; Torres, D.; Pisco, J.; Pinheiro, L.C.; Oliveira, A.G. Randomised clinical trial of prostatic artery embolisation versus a sham procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eur. Urol. 2020, 77, 354–362. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Venkatramani, V.; Panda, A.; Manojkumar, R.; Kekre, N.S. Monopolar versus bipolar transurethral resection of bladder tumors: A single center, parallel arm, randomized, controlled trial. J. Urol. 2014, 191, 1703–1707. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- McNicholas, T.A.; Woo, H.H.; Chin, P.T.; Bolton, D.; Arjona, M.F.; Sievert, K.-D.; Schoenthaler, M.; Wetterauer, U.; Vrijhof, E.J.; Gange, S.; et al. Minimally invasive prostatic urethral lift: Surgical technique and multinational experience. Eur. Urol. 2013, 64, 292–299. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Chughtai, B.; Forde, J.C.; Thomas, D.D.M.; Laor, L.; Hossack, T.; Woo, H.H.; Te, A.E.; Kaplan, S.A. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 2016, 2, 16031. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gravas, S.; Cornu, J.N.; Gacci, M.; Herrmann, T.R.W.; Malde, S.; Netsch, C.; De Nunzio, C.; Rieken, M.; Sakalis, V. EAU Guidelines on the Management of Non-Neurogenic Male LUTS; European Association of Urology: Arnhem, The Netherlands, 2025; Available online: https://uroweb.org/guidelines/treatment-of-non-neurogenic-male-luts (accessed on 14 July 2025).
- Young, S. Cost Matters: A Rigorous Economic Analysis of PAE with Comparison to TURP. Cardiovasc. Interv. Radiol. 2023, 46, 1036–1037. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gemmete, J.J. Cost-effectiveness of Prostate Artery Embolization for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Radiology 2023, 309, e233162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Characteristic | n = 53 | |
---|---|---|
Age (years), median (IQR) | 73 (18.5) | |
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR) | 25.7 (3.7) | |
PSA (nmol/mL), median (IQR) | 7.84 (7.50) | |
IPSS, median (IQR) | 31 (5) | |
Qmax (mL/s), median (IQR) | 5.5 (1) | |
PVR (mL), median (IQR) | 200 (62.5) | |
Prostate volume (mL), median (IQR) | 68 (20) | |
Prostate adenoma volume (mL), median (IQR) | 36 (17.5) | |
QoL score, median (IQR) | 4 (1) | |
IIEF-5 score, median (IQR) | 9 (7) | |
MSHQ-ED, median (IQR) | 5 (6) | |
MSHQ-Bother, median (IQR) | 2 (1) | |
Charlson Comorbidity Index, median (IQR) | 3 (3) | |
Use of Medical Therapy | No medical treatment n(%) | 20 (37.7) |
Only alpha-blocker n(%) | 18 (34.0) | |
Alpha-blocker + 5-alpha-reductase inhibitör n(%) | 13 (24.5) | |
Alpha-blocker + anticholinergic n(%) | 2 (3.8) | |
Catheter Use Follow-up/Glob Vesicale Status | Not present n(%) | 13 (24.5) |
Present n(%) | 40 (75.5) |
Parameter | Median (IQR) |
---|---|
Procedure duration (minutes) | 26 (10.5) |
Pain during procedure (VAS score) | 2 (1) |
Total energy applied (Joule) | 7200 (3600) |
Number of probes used (n) | 2 (1) |
Clavien-Dindo complication grade | 1 (0) |
Parameter | Pre-Treatment | Post-Treatment | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Month | 3rd Month | 6th Month | 12th Month | |||||||
p | p | p | p | |||||||
PSA (nmol/mL), median (IQR) | 7.84 (7.50) | 7.4 (6.55) | <0.001 | 5.9 (5.3) | <0.001 | 5 (4.9) | <0.001 | 4.5 (4.8) | <0.001 | |
IPSS, median (IQR) | 30 (6) | 27 (10) | <0.001 | 20 (9) | <0.001 | 16 (9) | <0.001 | 13 (8) | <0.001 | |
Qmax (mL/s), median (IQR) | 5.5 (1.0) | 7.0 (1.0) | 0.020 | 9.5 (1.8) | 0.005 | 11.0 (1.0) | 0.003 | 13.0 (1.9) | 0.002 | |
PVR (mL), median (IQR) | 200 (62.5) | 180 (27.5) | 0.001 | 125 (27.5) | <0.001 | 110 (17.5) | <0.001 | 85 (10) | <0.001 | |
Prostate volume (mL), median (IQR) | 68 (20) | 59 (17.5) | <0.001 | 51 (16.5) | <0.001 | 44 (11) | <0.001 | 40 (11) | 0.020 | |
Prostate adenoma volume (mL), median (IQR) | 36 (17.5) | 30 (12) | <0.001 | 22 (13) | <0.001 | 19 (12) | <0.001 | 15 (12) | <0.001 | |
QoL score, median (IQR) | 4 (1) | 4 (2) | <0.001 | 3 (2) | <0.001 | 3 (1) | <0.001 | 2 (0.5) | <0.001 | |
IIEF-5 score, median (IQR) | 9 (7) | 8 (8) | <0.001 | 9 (8.5) | 0.580 | 8 (8) | 0.849 | 8 (9.5) | 0.470 | |
MSHQ-ED, median (IQR) | 5 (6) | 5 (6) | 0.016 | 5 (6.5) | 0.840 | 6 (6) | 0.329 | 7 (7) | 0.011 | |
MSHQ-Bother, median (IQR) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 0.853 | 3 (1) | 0.172 | 3 (1) | 0.053 | 3 (1) | 0.013 | |
Necrosis volume after TPLA (mL), median (IQR) | - | 6 (2.5) | - | 11 (6.5) | <0.001 | 16 (6) | <0.001 | 20 (7.5) | <0.001 | |
Use of Medical Therapy | No medical treatment n(%) | 20 (37.7) | 23 (43.4) | <0.001 | 24 (45.3) | <0.001 | 31 (58.5) | <0.001 | 34 (64.2) | 0.007 |
Only alpha-blocker n(%) | 17 (34.0) | 14 (26.4) | 13 (24.5) | 9 (17.0) | 9 (17.0) | |||||
Alpha-blocker + 5-alpha-reductase inhibitör n(%) | 14 (26.4) | 14 (26.4) | 14 (26.4) | 13 (24.5) | 10 (18.9) | |||||
Alpha-blocker + anticholinergic n(%) | 2 (3.8) | 2 (3.8) | 2 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |||||
Catheter Use Follow-up/Glob Vesicale Status | Not present n(%) | 13 (24.5) | 13 (24.5) | 0.001 | 19 (35.8) | 0.001 | 26 (49.1) | 0.003 | 28 (52.8) | 0.001 |
Present n(%) | 40 (75.5) | 40 (75.5) | 34 (64.2) | 27 (50.9) | 25 (47.2) |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Özlülerden, Y.; Küçüker, K.; Çelen, S.; Duran, M.B.; Başer, A.; Yagci, A.B.; Tuncay, Ö.L. Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Transperineal Laser Ablation in BPH: A 12-Month Retrospective Analysis. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 6079. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176079
Özlülerden Y, Küçüker K, Çelen S, Duran MB, Başer A, Yagci AB, Tuncay ÖL. Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Transperineal Laser Ablation in BPH: A 12-Month Retrospective Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(17):6079. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176079
Chicago/Turabian StyleÖzlülerden, Yusuf, Kürşat Küçüker, Sinan Çelen, Mesut Berkan Duran, Aykut Başer, Ahmet Baki Yagci, and Ömer Levent Tuncay. 2025. "Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Transperineal Laser Ablation in BPH: A 12-Month Retrospective Analysis" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 17: 6079. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176079
APA StyleÖzlülerden, Y., Küçüker, K., Çelen, S., Duran, M. B., Başer, A., Yagci, A. B., & Tuncay, Ö. L. (2025). Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Transperineal Laser Ablation in BPH: A 12-Month Retrospective Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(17), 6079. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176079