Cryosurgical ablation therapy for prostate cancer

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate in the most common malignancy in men and still the leading cause of death from cancer in American men. Current data and published reports indicate that cryotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer can be an effective treatment method in selective patients. Since 1993, 643 cryosurgical procedures have been performed, including 68 patients who failed radiation therapy, and 20 patients who failed initial cryotherapy. Recently developed targeted cryotherapy techniques, using 6-8 probes, shows promising initial results. The complication rates are also compared favorably to the established therapies for prostate cancer. It is a minimally invasive procedure with a high patient's acceptance rate. It is a highly operator-dependant procedure with a steep learning curve coupled with constantly evolving technology.