title: Fascia surrounding the prostate: clinical and anatomical basis of the nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) is based on anatomical considerations that are still controversial. The aim of this study is to define and describe the anatomy of the fascias surrounding the prostate in a histoembryologic model and during open and laparoscopic approaches to assess their importance in surgical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anatomical dissection of three fresh cadavers was conducted to reproduce an open approach. Complementary data under laparoscopic conditions were obtained from images captured from the video feed during a laparoscopic NSRP performed via a transperitoneal approach. A histological study of one fresh 25-week human male fetus, obtained following miscarriage, was also conducted to document the embryologic development of the identified fascias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three fascias surrounding the prostate can clearly be individualized both in histologic and clinical conditions. The endopelvic fascia (EF), the prostatic fascia (PF) and the Denonvilliers' fascia (DF) recover the prostate gland and structure the periprostatic environment. Neurovascular bundles are situated in a triangle formed by PF, EF and DF. Interfascial dissection (between EF and PF) allows nerve-sparing surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When performing radical prostatectomy, it is mandatory to locate EF, PF and DF precisely to respect the neurovascular bundles. Nevertheless, cancer extension and anatomic variations can lead to more extensive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tenon Hospital, University Paris 6, 4 rue de la Chine, 75970, Paris Cedex 20, France. jncornu@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Nicolas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phé
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sèbe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005205:Fascia / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation*; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*