Inguinal hernia in stage M0 prostate cancer: a comparison of incidence in men treated with and without radical retropubic prostatectomy--an analysis of 1105 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the incidence of inguinal hernia (IH) in a large group of patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who were treated nonoperatively, and to compare it with the incidence in a subset of patients who had undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). IH has been reported in 12% to 21% of men at a mean period of 6 to 10 months after RRP. However, whether IH truly represents a complication after RRP has been somewhat debatable owing to the lack of proper control groups.
METHODS: A total of 953 patients treated without surgery (nonoperative group) and 152 patients who underwent RRP (operative group) were selected from the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Study No. 6 database consisting of 1218 patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer. Radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and a follow-up duration of less than 3 months were exclusion criteria. Patients were followed up for any new medical condition at 12-week intervals for a mean period of 39 months (nonoperative group) and 50 months (operative group).
RESULTS: Of the 953 patients in the nonoperative group, 23 (2.4%) developed IH versus 13 (8.6%) of 152 in the operative group (log-rank [Mantel-Cox] P = 0.010).
CONCLUSIONS: Within comparable age groups, the incidence of IH in men with prostate cancer treated without surgery was significantly lower than that after RRP. This phenomenon seems to be causally related to the surgical procedure. The increased risk of IH after RRP deserves further recognition and should be included in the preoperative information given to patients. Studies are warranted to define the causal mechanisms, as well as possible preventive measures.