[Advances in radical prostatectomy]

In the western world, adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most common malignant neoplasm of human males. In recent years, the incidence of the disease has increased dramatically in China. Surgery is an important treatment for prostate cancer. This article reviews the progress in radical retropubic and perineal prostatectomy, standard laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. It covers the necessity, techniques and experience of surgery, nerve preserving techniques and erectile dysfunction, complications and outcomes, advantages and disadvantages of and comparison between various surgical approaches.