title: Retropubic versus perineal radical prostatectomy in early prostate cancer: eight-year experience.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, S. Camillo Hospital, Rieti, Italy. martis.g@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martis
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diana
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ombres
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mastrangeli
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mastrangeli
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen