[Value of cystoprostatectomy in locally advanced prostate carcinoma]

Patients suffering from locally advanced prostate carcinoma are often stressed by debilitating local symptoms limiting their quality of life. At the same time life expectancy often exceeds several years, whereas urologists and oncologists tend to underestimate their patients' life expectancy. Cystoprostatectomy for locally advanced prostate carcinoma is a reasonable therapeutic option concerning frequency and kind of imminent complications and possibly alleviates or completely eliminates local symptoms in 80% or more. According to the literature cancer-specific 10-year survival rates are 38% or median cancer-specific survival lies between 24 and 31 months. The role of neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy has not yet been defined. Mostly after cystoprostatectomy due to locally advanced prostate carcinoma an ileal conduit is formed for urinary diversion, but also orthotopic neobladders or continent pouches are used. Incontinence rates for orthotopic neobladders may reach 50% and more. In synopsis cystoprostatectomy may be a viable therapeutic option for patients suffering from locally advanced prostate carcinoma. It surely is important that the indication for surgery is based on an individual decision.