Cryosurgery for locally advanced (T3) prostate cancer

Cryosurgery of prostate cancer results in epithelial destruction. An undetectable serum prostate-specific antigen and absence of cancer by biopsy is related to cancer stage. The best results are seen in patients with low stage disease. Recurrence is more common in those patients with seminal vesicle invasion or apical involvement by cancer. Morbidity is not insignificant. The risk of urinary retention can be minimized by the use of an effective urethral warming device and more prolonged urethral catheterization after the procedure. Impotence is common in patients who undergo complete cryoablation of the prostate.