New Taipei City Yonghe District Office Health Lecture | Dr. Lin Chun-yu Shares Minimally Invasive Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and PAE (Prostatic Artery Embolization)
On November 16, 2024, Dr. Chun-Yu Lin, who currently serves as the practicing PAE physician at Sunrise Clinic, was invited to participate in the "113th Public Health and Parent Education Lecture Series" held by the Yonghe District Office of New Taipei City. Speaking on the topic of "New Minimally Invasive Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia," he introduced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and a new alternative of catheter-based minimally invasive treatment to the public.
At that time, Dr. Chun-Yu Lin worked in the Department of Radiology at Cardinal Tien Hospital Yonghe Branch, where he long dedicated himself to prostatic artery embolization, varicocele embolization, and other image-guided vascular interventions.
BPH is Not Limited Only to Medication and Traditional Surgery
As men age, benign prostatic hyperplasia becomes quite common.
Possible symptoms include frequent urination, nocturia, weak urine stream, hesitancy, and a sensation of incomplete emptying. In severe cases, urinary retention may even occur, requiring the insertion of a urinary catheter.
There is more than just one way to treat BPH. Aside from medication and various forms of transurethral surgeries, some patients can also be further evaluated for PAE (Prostatic Artery Embolization).
During this public health lecture, Dr. Chun-Yu Lin introduced this minimally invasive treatment, which involves entering the prostatic blood vessels with a catheter, from the perspective of an interventional radiologist.
Treating Prostatic Hyperplasia Through Blood Vessels
In the lecture materials made public by the Yonghe District Office of New Taipei City, this treatment is described as a catheter-based therapy in which a microcatheter is guided into the prostatic artery, followed by the embolization of microspheres.
Different from prostatic surgeries performed through the urethra, PAE accesses the prostate via the vascular pathway to locate the arteries supplying the prostate, selectively reducing its blood flow. This causes the gland to gradually shrink after treatment, thereby improving lower urinary tract symptoms caused by prostatic hyperplasia.
The treatment can typically be performed under local anesthesia. However, whether a patient is suitable for PAE still requires individual assessment based on each patient's symptoms, prostate size, urinary system function, and vascular anatomy.
Why Does PAE Require Expertise in Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology?
Although PAE appears to be a catheter-based procedure, it actually relies heavily on image interpretation.
The prostatic arteries are tiny, and their origins and pathways can vary from person to person.
Interventional radiologists must utilize pre-operative imaging and intra-operative angiography to identify the location of the prostatic arteries, surrounding vascular branches, and the direction of blood flow, before navigating the microcatheter to the appropriate position for treatment.
Therefore, PAE is not simply "blocking a blood vessel," but rather a combination of:
Diagnostic imaging, vascular anatomy interpretation, microcatheter manipulation, and embolization techniques.
This is also an important characteristic that distinguishes interventional radiology from general prostate treatments.
From Hospitals and Public Health Lectures to Continuous Commitment to PAE Treatment
The Yonghe District Office of New Taipei City not only archived the record of the day's event but also made Dr. Chun-Yu Lin's complete presentation slides publicly available.
The presentation was titled "A New Non-Surgical Treatment for Prostate Hyperplasia—Prostate Embolization" and noted that Dr. Chun-Yu Lin was serving as the Secretary-General of the Taiwan Society of Interventional Radiology at the time. The content covers everything from BPH symptoms and traditional treatments to the vascular anatomy and therapeutic approaches of prostatic artery embolization.
This public health lecture in 2024 stands as a record of Dr. Chun-Yu Lin's continuous dedication to prostatic artery embolization treatment and public health education.
Currently, Dr. Chun-Yu Lin performs PAE (Prostatic Artery Embolization) and other vascular interventions at Sunrise Clinic, continuing to evaluate different treatment options for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia using his expertise in diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology.
Yonghe District Office of New Taipei City | Official Event Page
Dr. Chun-Yu Lin | Complete Presentation Slides on Prostate Embolization PDF
Further Reading
"News98 Doctor On Call" | Dr. Chun-Yu Lin Discusses Prostatic Artery Embolization
Event Source: Yonghe District Office of New Taipei City
Event Name: The 8th Session of the 113th Public Health and Parent Education Lecture Series
Lecture Topic: New Minimally Invasive Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Date: November 16, 2024
Speaker: Dr. Chun-Yu Lin
