The Effect of Transarterial Prostate Embolization in Hormone-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Dogs: A Pilot Study

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of transarterial prostate embolization for reducing the volume in hormone-induced canine prostate hyperplasia.

Materials and Methods

Nine beagle dogs were included in this study. Prostate hyperplasia was induced by administering dihydrotestosterone and β-estradiol. The hormones were given for 12 weeks in group A (n = 4) and 24 weeks in group B (n = 5). Twelve weeks after initiating the hormone treatment, two animals in group A and three in group B underwent prostate embolization with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. The volume of each prostate was measured three times with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging: once before hormone treatment and at 12 and 24 weeks after initiation of hormone administration. The prostates and bladders were harvested after the third MR study and were grossly and microscopically evaluated.

Results

The mean volume of the prostate increased by 156.13% ± 110.01% in the nine dogs after 12 weeks of hormone administration. In group A (n = 4), the third MR study showed a 67.74% mean decrease in prostate volume in nonembolized dogs and an 81.04% mean decrease in embolized dogs compared with the second MR study. In group B (n = 5), the mean increases in prostate volume between the second and third MR studies were 40.79% in embolized dogs (n = 3) and 75.15% in nonembolized dogs. There was no gross or microscopic change in the bladders except for a focal hemorrhage in one specimen.

Conclusions

Transcatheter arterial embolization is feasible for reducing prostate volume without serious complications in hormone-induced canine prostate hyperplasia.

Abbreviations: BPH, benign prostate hyperplasia, PVA, polyvinyl alcohol