"Open perineal cryosurgery" in carcinoma of the prostate--a possible curative alternative.

101 Patients with different stages of carcinoma of the prostate underwent "open perineal cryotherapy" between September 1976 and December 31, 1983. The age of the patients varied between 44 and 80 years. The benefit of this method was a lower rate of complications than in radical prostatectomy with a similar cummulative survival rate in stage B disease. No immunological response was found in this study. Neopterin values--an easily detectable parameter for the T-lymphocyte-macrophage-activity and urinary neopterin excretion immediately after cryosurgery remained in the normal range. In stage D patients no metastases disappeared. Further studies showed no effect on the pituitary gonadal axis after cryotherapy of the prostate.