[Cancer of the prostate: role of radical surgery]

The place of total prostatectomy in the management of prostatic cancer remains controversial. After a historical review, the perineal and retropubic approaches are briefly described. The later one allows a staging lymphadenectomy which is capital for the operative decision. Indications, complications and results of the operation are analyzed. The author concludes that prostato-vesiculectomy is of value but that its indications must be clearly defined: patients under 70 years old, stages T1-T2, N0-N1, M0 and cancers with low grade of differentiation (G1: no; G2: ?; G3: yes).