Salvage surgery for radiation failure in prostate cancer.
METHODS
Salvage surgery was done in 43 patients who did not respond to radiation therapy of prostate cancer between 1982-1991. Thirty-five patients underwent salvage prostatectomy and 8, cystoprostatectomy.


RESULTS
The complications were significant; four patients had rectal injuries (all closed primarily), one had a ureteral injury, and there was one perioperative death. Urinary incontinence occurred in 10 of 35 patients (30%). Pathologic step sections of the prostate showed that only 13 of 43 patients (30%) had negative surgical margins. Follow-up (range, 1-10 years) revealed that 34 patients were alive, and 9 had died. Eleven of 20 patients were alive who were followed more than 5 years. Ten patients were considered to have no evidence of disease (undetectable prostate specific antigen levels).


CONCLUSIONS
In selected patients, salvage surgery has a place in the treatment of prostate cancer after radiation therapy failure.
Pontes
J E
JE
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Montie
J
J
Klein
E
E
Huben
R
R
D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D015653:Cystectomy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016879:Salvage Therapy