[Development of tumor selection based on pathological stage in clinically localized prostate carcinoma]

Four hundred and eighty-eight radical retropubic prostatectomies (RRP) were performed on clinically localized prostate cancer at one institution within 5 years (1992-1996). These were then analyzed regarding the migration of pathological tumor stages towards more localized stages. Within the observation period, the annual rate of RRP increased by 81% from 69 to 125 cases. The authors noted a decline in the occurrence of advanced tumor stages (65.0% to 39.2%) and small cancers (< 0.5 cc: 7.2% to 1.6%) and an increase in pathological T2 tumors (30.4% to 55.2%). The rate of positive surgical margins declined from 34.7% to 12.8% (for all pathological stages). These data confirm trends which were observed in the USA with increasing detection and treatment of localized prostate cancer.