Principal Investigator: Kathryn Hirst, Ph.D.

enign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition in older men characterized by voiding symptoms and prostate abnormalities. Treatment ranges from `watchful waiting' to invasive surgical therapy with potentially serious side effects. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has sponsored a collaborative group of seven clinical centers and a coordinating center to investigate the efficacy and safety of surgeries considered minimally invasive to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Minimally invasive surgical therapies use heat effects to alter or destroy prostatic tissue in situ. Basic approaches include laser, microwave, or ultrasound energy to deliver heat to the target area. In its first year, the collaborative group is designing and developing a protocol to conduct a clinical trial. The Biostatistics Center serves as the coordinating center for the collaborative group.