The physical principles behind the use of lasers in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Lasers can be delivered in a number of ways to an obstructing prostate gland using free beam and interstitial coagulation strategies and contact vaporisation techniques. Urologists have learnt that variations in dosimetry, delivery system and laser wavelength all affect the type of prostatic laser tissue interactions that occur and that these directly influence the clinical outcome of the procedure in individual patients. The introduction of many new fibres, laser generators and dosimetry regimens makes it difficult however to define optimal treatment parameters. Here, the author describes the principles underlying the use of lasers in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The paper is based on a review recently published in the European Urology Update Series