Relative advantages and disadvantages of radical perineal prostatectomy versus radical retropubic prostatectomy.

In recent years prostate cancer has become the predominant malignancy in men. With the introduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA) the disease can be diagnosed at an early stage, at which surgical therapy can be curative. In the past century, the retropubic and the perineal routes were established as alternatives of surgical access to the gland for clinically localized prostate cancer. The selection of the operative route is mostly decided individually on the basis of surgical training and experience. The revived interest in perineal radical prostatectomy is explained by the fact that this technique has been associated with low morbidity. The differences of both surgical approaches of radical prostatectomy are elucidated and compared regarding tumor control and short and long term complication rates. Taking these results into consideration, specific advantages and disadvantages of radical perineal prostatectomy are emphasized.