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Histological evaluation of prostatic tissue following transurethral laser resection (TULaR) using the 980 nm diode laserFigure 4.Stromal oedema associated with ectasic vessels butwithout extravasation of red blood cells after treatmentwith the diode 980 nm laser at 100 W (H & E; 100X).Figure 7.Extravasation of red blood cells and hemorrhagicareas after transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) (H & E; 100X).Figure 5.Occlusion of small vessels after treatmentwith the diode 980 nm laser at 100 W (H & E; 400X).Figure 6.Histological samples following transurethral resectionof the prostate (TURP) showed a coagulation rimof 0.1 mm (H & E; 100X).ulation rim of 0.5 mm (range: 0.2-1 mm) (Figure 2) andadjacent to the vaporized tissue, coagulated connective tissueand glandular epithelia were seen. Beyond this zone acomplete detachment of glandular epithelia from the connectivetissue was observed (Figure 3). Stromal oedemaassociated with ectasic vessels but without extravasation ofred blood cells, haemosiderin deposition and haemorrhagicareas were also retrieved (Figure 4). All cases showedocclusion of small vessels beyond the zone of coagulatedtissue (Figure 5).Collections of lymphocytes, probably related to a previouschronic prostatitis, were an occasional finding.Samples obtained from TURP ranged in size from 5 mmto 20 mm and showed black, irregular margins.Histological evaluation showed a coagulation rim of 0.3mm (range: 0.1-0.5 mm) (Figure 6). Next to the vaporizedtissue, coagulated connective tissue and glandularepithelia were seen, but beyond this zone no detachmentof glandular epithelia from the connective tissue wasobserved. Unlike laser treatment, samples obtained fromTURP showed extravasation of red blood cells,haemosiderin deposition and haemorrhagic areas (Figu -re 7). No incidence of adenocarcinoma was noted in anyof the prostate tissue samples.DISCUSSIONThis study is the first report on the histological effectson prostate tissue following ablation with the 980 nmdiode laser and the first time that such effects have beencompared with the morphological changes caused byTURP. Data show that the coagulation depth with the980 nm laser is consistently under 1 mm with 100 Wpulsed power when used in contact mode, providinglow thermal diffusion into the tissue. At the same time,the occlusion of small vessels justifies the haemostaticproperties with minimal bleeding during the procedure.Histological evaluation showed two distinct zones withinthe ablated samples. The zone where the completedetachment of glandular epithelia from the connectiveArchivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia 2010; 82, 13