[Practical management of localized prostate cancer: surveillance, surgery or radiotherapy]

The discovery of a localised prostatic cancer has become an increasingly frequent clinical reality (60%). At this stage, the cancer is theoretically curable by radical prostatectomy. However, a number of factors prevent this surgery in practice, which is why the clinician often has to choose either radiotherapy or watchful waiting. This latter option is justified by the slow course of prostatic cancer and the mean age of detection of this cancer (70-75 years). The therapeutic approach to localised prostatic cancers is still a controversial issue, especially in men between the ages of 70 and 75 years. Progress must be made in the assessment of the aggressiveness of the prostatic cancer before this controversy can be resolved.