Aims of Study
We investigated the efficacy of transurethral needle ablation(TUNA) of prostate for the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (Category IIIA according to the classifications of NIH1) not responsive to conservative managements.

Methods
We performed TUNA in 43 nonbacterial prostatitis patients in whom no clinical management was useful to relieve the symptoms and signs of prostatitis. All patients had excessive white blood cells (>10wbc) per high power field in expressed prostatic fluid with no bacterial growth on urine and prostatic fluid cultures. Preoperatively all patients were evaluated using symptom score, patient satisfaction (quality of life) and prostatic fluid examination. These parameters were rechecked at 1 and 3 months after TUNA in all patients. Of the total, 10 patients underwent pre- and post-operative(at post op 3 mths.) semenalysis

Results
The symptom (from 11.02±2.90 to 5.00±2.61) and satisfaction(from 4.84±0.57 to 1.26±1.18) scores were improved significantly (p<0.05) at 3 months after the TUNA. Of the 37 patients with >100 leukocyte count/hpf before TUNA, 26 patients (70.3%) became normal at EPS within the 3 months after TUNA. Also, of the 42 patients with preoperative abnormal leukocyte counts, 30 patients (71.4%) had normal EPS within the 3 months after TUNA. Of the 10 patients who underwent semen analysis, changes of the semen quality was seen in no patient after the TUNA.

Conclusions
TUNA appears to be an effective treatment for some patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis unresponsive to conservative therapies. References 1. Chronic prostattis Workshop; Summary of Statement. Bethesda, MD, National Institute of Health, December 7-8, 1995.