Laser Effects on Prostatic Tissue: Review of Experimental Data

Abstract

Laser—tissue interaction is a highly dynamic event affected by many features of the laser, the tissue, and the operative procedure. The continuous-wave lasers used in urology produce lesions in three basic phases: initial heating, protein denaturation, and evaporation with charring. There are three components of these lesions: a central cavity, a zone of char, and a coagulation zone. The configuration of the lesion differs depending on the method of laser ablation (noncontact coagulation, contact tip incision, contact free-beam evaporation). Understanding of these differences will enable the endourologist to choose rationally among the various techniques of laser prostate ablation.