Retropubic versus perineal radical prostatectomy in early prostate cancer: eight-year experience.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer death. A randomized study was performed on patients with localized prostate cancer and treated with radical prostatectomy using the perineal or the retropubic approach comparing oncological outcomes, cancer control, and functional results.


METHODS
Between 1997 and 2004, in a randomized study 200 patients underwent a radical prostatectomy performed by retropubic (100 patients) or perineal (100 patients) approach.


RESULTS
Differences between hospital stay, duration of catheter drainage, intraoperative blood loss, and transfusion requirements were statistically significant in favor of perineal prostatectomy. Differences between positive surgical margins and urinary continence in the two groups were not statistically significant at 6 and 24 months. Differences between erectile function at 24 months were statistically significant in favor of retropubic prostatectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Radical perineal prostatectomy is an excellent alternative approach for radical surgery in the treatment of early prostate cancer.
Martis
Gianni
G
Department of Urology, S. Camillo Hospital, Rieti, Italy. martis.g@tiscali.it
Diana
Massimo
M
Ombres
Maurizio
M
Cardi
Antonio
A
Mastrangeli
Roberta
R
Mastrangeli
Bruno
B
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen