title: How complete is a transurethral resection of the prostate?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the completeness of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The prostate volume of 432 patients was measured by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) before they underwent a TURP performed by one of three consultant urological surgeons. The prostate tissue collected at resection was weighed, multiplied by 1.2 to compensate for 'shrinkage', and the amount of tissue removed expressed as a percentage of the pre-operative prostate volume determined by TRUS (resection ratio). The patients were categorized into groups based on pre-operative prostate size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean weight of prostate tissue resected was 25.6 g. Resection ratios increased with prostate size, with the largest occurring in prostates of 71-110 g. The surgeon did not resect more than 50% of the gland volume in any group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study counters the theory that a complete resection of the prostate is routinely achieved. The endoscopic appearances probably imply a complete resection of the adenoma but a considerable volume of the gland remains. This has important implications for the detection of prostate carcinoma at TURP and for the staging of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Radiology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Bowsher
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography