Does transurethral resection of prostatic carcinoma promote tumor spread?

122 patients with prostatic carcinoma treated by radiation therapy were reviewed. An actuarial analysis was done on survival comparing patients treated by transurethral resection (TURP) prior to radiation to those diagnosed by needle biopsy. Survival rates were not significantly different between groups. TURP was also without effect on interval free of distant or local recurrence. Survival and time to distant or local recurrence were analyzed by tumor stage and grade. A multivariate analysis with the Cox model was made by which the effects of TURP and tumor grade and stage were examined simultaneously. TURP was without effect on survival rates and interval to distant or local recurrence after adjustments had been made for the effects of stage and grade.