Total retropubic prostatectomy for carcinoma of the prostate

Total prostatectomy is an effective mode of therapy for early carcinoma of the prostate. This report deals with 74 patients who underwent total retropubic prostatectomy at our hospitals during a 23-year period. The 5-year survival rates of patients with stages A and B, C, and D carcinomas were 84.1, 40.1, and 12.7% respectively. The total 5-year survival rate was 56.1%. The 10-year survival rates compare favorably with those of any other mode of therapy. The histological grade was highly significant with respect to prognosis. Combined orchiectomy with total prostatectomy was effective. Operative mortality was 4.05% (3 patients), and the main complication was incontinence. We strongly believe that total prostatectomy is the only curative treatment for early carcinoma of the prostate. This procedure should be utilized more frequently.