Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a marketing or surgical strategy?

The aim of the present review is to compare the advantages and the disadvantages of radical perineal, retropubic and laparoscopic prostatectomy with a close look at the laparoscopic procedure, an operation which has gained much attention in the urological world over the last 3 years. Also reviewed are the motivations, in terms of real advantages for the patient and the needs of the urological 'market', that push the urologist towards using the laparoscopic technique instead of the radical retropubic or radical perineal prostatectomy.