Does transurethral resection of the prostate promote metastatic disease?

Previously published data have suggested that transurethral resection of the prostate might promote the subsequent appearance of metastatic disease. To confirm or deny these observations 145 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, after having had the disease diagnosed either by transurethral resection of the prostate or transrectal needle biopsy. Of the 145 patients 6 were excluded from analysis since they had had transurethral resection of the prostate and transrectal needle biopsy. In 33 patients the disease was diagnosed by transurethral resection of the prostate only and in 106 it was diagnosed by transrectal needle biopsy only. The relative distribution of Gleason grade and the positive versus negative margins among the 2 populations were similar. Using time to first evidence of distant disease as the endpoint of the study no difference in failure rates could be detected between the 2 populations. It is concluded that transurethral resection of the prostate does not enhance the appearance of metastatic disease.