[Radical prostatectomy in the treatment of prostatic cancer. Perineal and transpubic methods]

This paper presents a report on 49 patients with prostatic cancer stages A-C (pT1NxMo-pT3Nx-1Mo) treated by radical prostatectomy. 32 patients were operated on perineally without preliminary lymph staging and 17 patients by the transpubic method after pelvic lymph staging. No death occurred perioperationaly in either group. Early complications were seen in 22% of cases after the perineal method and in 12% after the transpubic method; the incidence of late complications was virtually the same in both groups (22% and 23%) and the rate of incontinence was also similar (22% and 18%). The 5 year survival rate was 92% and the 10 year survival rate was 67%. On the basis of these results we feel that radical prostatectomy, especially incorporating the most recent modifications to retain continence and potency, represents the treatment of choice in early stages of prostatic cancer and, indeed, even in stage C cases.