[Interventional treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia : Embolization of the testicular vein].

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Embolization of the testicular veins (Gat-Goren technique) is an interventional procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: In addition to standard urological procedures, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), arterial embolization of the prostate is considered as the interventional radiological method of choice.

METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Embolization of the testicular veins is technically identical to the embolization of varicoceles in infertile men and represents a less invasive treatment.

PERFORMANCE: Embolization of the testicular veins can be performed as a low-risk intervention with low side effects. Variants of the venous anatomy can make the procedure more difficult. In current studies a good reduction of symptoms could be achieved in intermediate-term follow-up.

ACHIEVEMENTS: The medium-term results are promising but data on long-term results and comparisons with alternative treatments are missing.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Embolization of the testicular veins is a minimally invasive method for the treatment of BPH. The procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting. In the intermediate course up to 6 months after treatment, promising results were demonstrated in recent studies. Randomized studies, data on long-term results and comparisons to alternative methods (e. g. arterial prostatic embolization and surgical procedures) are missing.