The estimates suggest that use of thermotreatment and lasers may offer an advantage over TURP. However, the results are sensitive to a number of factors, particularly the length of hospital stay and convalescence after TURP, and machine utilisation and costs of disposables for the thermotreatment and laser options. There will be further impact of the newer methods through their use for patients who are not candidates for surgery. Quality of life issues, which are not considered in this analysis, are likely to be significant.