Benign prostatic hypertrophy is the most common cause for urethral obstruction in males > 50 yr of age. Interventional radiologic dilatation under fluoroscopic control offers a nonoperative alternative for treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Cadaver studies, with the use of arteriographic balloon catheters, indicated that manual injection pressure provides effective dilatation of the prostatic urethra. Evaluation of symptom relief will have to await patient studies.