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Montefiore First In Northeast to Treat Enlarged Prostate With New FDA Approved 'Microwave' Procedure

NEW YORK CITY,NY (April 15, 2004) – Montefiore is the first medical center in the Northeast to begin treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), more commonly known as enlarged prostate, with a new “microwave” Thermodilatation system approved by the FDA just this past February. The new dual-action technology employs microwave (heat) thermotherapy and prostatic urethral dilatation (stretching) to provide significant improvement to symptoms within two weeks of treatment.

“This new procedure is a significant advance because it offers a safe, one-time, ambulatory outpatient treatment for prostatic symptoms such as severe urinary urgency and frequency,” said Arnold Melman, MD, chairman, Department of Urology at Montefiore Medical Center and the principal investigator in the trials that led to the FDA approval. “This procedure offers millions of older men, suffering from BPH, a treatment that provides significant symptom relief with minimal side effects and without the need for post-treatment catheterization,” Dr. Melman said.

Past treatments included invasive surgery, other minimally invasive therapies, and drug therapy.

BPH is an age-related disorder; its incidence increases with maturation of the population. It is estimated that nine million men in the United States experience BPH symptoms and that more than 26-million men are affected by BPH worldwide. Doctors estimate that approximately 50 percent of all men over the age of 55 and 90 percent of all men over 75 will have BPH symptoms are various times.

Celsion, Inc. a biotechnology company of Columbia, Maryland developed the Prolieve Thermodilatation system. The device is being distributed by Boston Scientific Corporation, Inc.

Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is an internationally recognized leader in patient care, education, research and community services. Located in the Bronx, Montefiore provides treatment programs for patients with all major illnesses and has distinguished centers of excellence in heart care, cancer care, children’s health, women’s health and surgery.

Steven M. Safyer, MD

President and CEO
Montefiore Medical Center

Whether you are a patient in one of our hospitals, visiting your healthcare team at our care centers throughout the Bronx and nearby Westchester, or have children receiving medical and dental care at our school-based health clinics, I know you will experience our dedication and professionalism as we work hard to support your healthcare needs.

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