Early clinical experience with percutaneous cryosurgical ablation of the prostate

In 1993 we started offering transrectal ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryosurgical ablation of the prostate (PCAP) as a treatment alternative for localized prostate cancer. Through 1994, 85 patients underwent PCAP and 53 had 3-6 month postoperative biopsies. A learning curve effect was observed: 46% of early patients had positive postoperative biopsies, versus only 9% of later ones. With repeat PCAP on the early patients, currently 87% of the biopsied patients are disease free. While longer follow-up is necessary, it appears that PCAP merits further investigation as a treatment alternative for localized prostate cancer.