1. Characteristics of included studies.
| Study name | Trial period | Setting/country | Description of participants | Duration of follow‐up | Intervention and comparator | Age (mean ± SD)* | IPSS (mean ± SD)* | Prostate volume (mean ± SD)* |
| Abbou 1995 | N/A | France | Men ≥ 50 years with symptoms > 3 months, prostate 30 ‐ 80 g, PFR < 15 mL/s, PVR < 300 mL | 12 months | TUMT (Thermex II, Prostcare, BSD‐50) | 65 ± 8 | N/A | 45 ± 15 g |
| Sham | 66 ± 7 | N/A | 44 ± 11 g | |||||
| Ahmed 1997 | N/A | UK | Men ≥ 55 years with AUA score > 12 > 1 year, prostate 25 ‐ 100 mL, PFR < 15 mL/s and a PVR < 300 mL | 6 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 69.36 | 18.5 | 36.6 mL |
| TURP | 69.45 | 18.4 | 46.1 mL | |||||
| Albala 2002 | N/A | USA | Men 50 ‐ 80 years, AUA index > 13 and a bother score > 11, PFR < 12 mL/sec and PVR > 125 mL; prostate 30 ‐ 100 mL without a significant intravesical middle lobe | 12 months | TUMT (TMx‐2000) | 65.2 ± 7.3 | 22.2 ± 5.0 | 50.5 ± 18.6 mL |
| Sham | 64.6 ± 7.1 | 22.7 ± 5.7 | 47.1 ± 17.9 mL | |||||
| Bdesha 1994 | N/A | UK | Men with prostatism (WHO score > 14), PVR > 50 mL, PFR < 15 mL/s | 3 months | TUMT (LEO Microthermer) | 63.7 | 19.2 | N/A |
| Sham | 62.6 | 18.8 | N/A | |||||
| Blute 1996 | N/A | USA | Men suffering from urinary symptoms (Madsen Symptom score > 8), PVR 10000 mL, PFR < 10 mL/s, prostate length 30 ‐ 50 mm | 12 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 66.9 ± 7.8 | 19.9 ± 7.2 | 37.4 ± 14.2 mL |
| Sham | 66.9 ± 7.1 | 20.8 ± 6.7 | 36.1 ± 13.4 mL | |||||
| Brehmer 1999 | N/A | Sweden | Men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms and with an enlarged prostate | 12 months | TUMT (30' ‐ 60' ‐ ECP system) | 70.4 | N/A | N/A |
| Sham | ||||||||
| D'Ancona 1998 | 1994 ‐ 1995 | Netherlands | Men ≥ 45 years with Madsen score > 8 months, prostate 2.5 ‐ 5 cm/30 ‐ 100 mL, PFR < 15 mL/s PRV < 350 mL | 24 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 69.6 ± 8.5 | 16.7 ± 5.6 | 45 ± 15 mL |
| TURP | 69.3 ± 5.9 | 18.3 ± 6.3 | 43 ± 12 mL | |||||
| Dahlstrand 1995 | N/A | Sweden | Men ≥ 45 years with Madsen score > 8 months, prostate 3.5 ‐ 5 cm, PFR < 15 mL/s PRV > 150 mL | 24 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 68 | N/A | 33 mL |
| TURP | 79 | N/A | 37 mL | |||||
| De Wildt 1996 | 1991 ‐ 1992 | Netherlands/UK | Men ≥ 45 years with Madsen score > 8 months, PFR < 15 mL/s PRV > 150 mL | 12 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 63.3 ± 8.1 | N/A | 48.6 ± 16.6 mL |
| Sham | 66.9 ± 6.0 | N/A | 49.0 ± 20.0 mL | |||||
| Floratos 2001 | 1996 ‐ 1997 | Netherlands | Men ≥ 45 years, prostate ≥ 30 cm3, prostatic urethral length ≥ 25 mm, a Madsen symptom score ≥ 8, PFR ≤ 15 mL/s, PVR ≤ 350 mL | 36 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 68 | 21 | 42 mL |
| TURP | 66 | 20 | 48 mL | |||||
| Larson 1998 | 1994 ‐ 1996 | USA | Men ≥ 45 years with AUA score > 9, enlarged prostate (3 ‐ 5 cm TRUS), PFR < 12 mL/s without a significantly enlarged middle lobe | 12 months | TUMT (Targis) | 66 | 20.8 | 38.1 mL |
| Sham | 65.9 | 21.3 | 44.7 mL | |||||
| Nawrocki 1997 | N/A | UK | Men with a Madsen symptom score ≥ 8, PFR ≤ 15 mL/s, PVR > 150 mL, detrusor pressure > 70 cm H2O | 6 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 70 (56 ‐ 80) | 19 (7 ‐ 31) | 41.2 ± 14.6 mL |
| Sham | 17.5 (7 ‐ 28) | 46.7 ± 16.8 mL | ||||||
| Nørby 2002a | 1996 ‐ 1997 | Denmark | Men ≥ 50 years, IPSS ≥ 7, PFR ≤ 12 mL/s | 6 months | TUMT (Prostatron) | 66 ± 7 | 20.5 ± 5.7 | 43 (35 – 79) mL |
| TURP/TUIP | 68 ± 7 | 21.3 ± 6.6 | 44 (35 – 50) mL | |||||
| Roehrborn 1998 | N/A | USA | Men ≥ 55 years, AUA‐SI ≥ 13, PFR ≤ 12 mL/s, prostate volume 25 ‐ 100 mL | 6 months | TUMT (Dornier) | 66.3 ± 6.5 | 23.6 ± 5.6 | 48.1 ± 16.2 mL |
| Sham | 66.0 ± 5.8 | 23.9 ± 5.6 | 50.5 ± 18.1 mL | |||||
| Venn 1995 | N/A | UK | Men with a Madsen symptom score ≥ 8, PVR < 250 mL | 6 months | TUMT (Microwave Engineering Designs) | 70.5 | 19.2 | 40.4 mL |
| Sham | 68 | 20.1 | 40.6 mL | |||||
| Wagrell 2002 | 1998 ‐ 1999 | Scandinavia/USA | Men IPSS ≥ 13, PFR ≤ 13 mL/s, prostate volume 30 ‐ 100 mL | 5 years | TUMT (ProstaLund Feedback) | 67 ± 8 | 21.0 ± 5.4 | 48.9 ± 15.8 mL |
| TURP | 69 ± 8 | 20.4 ± 5.9 | 52.7 ± 17.3 mL |
TUMT: transurethral microwave thermotherapy; TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate; IPSS: International Prostate Symptom Score; SD: standard deviation; N/A: not available. (*) SD when available.