FREQUENCY OF CANCER IN THE PROSTATE AFTER RADICAL CYSTOPROSTATECTOMY FOR BLADDER-CARCINOMA - A CLEAR CASE FOR RADICAL REMOVAL OF APICAL PROSTATE REMNANTS

The reported data on the occurrence of unsuspected prostatic carcinomas range from 4-46%, as do the figures concerning the incidence of prostate infiltration of pre-existing bladder carcinomas (up to 43%). Due to the partly divergent findings, we analysed retrospectively the incidence of prostatic involvement by transitional cell carcinoma or co-existing prostatic carcinoma in urocystoprostatectomy specimens taken from our own patient collective and compared this group with a prospective group of patients. Standardized preparation increased the rate of primary prostatic carcinomas found from 10% to 32%. This is in accordance with the increasing percentage of prostatic cancer found in autopsy series cited in the literature. From the clinical point of view, this means that under no circumstances may parts of the prostate be left after radical surgery for urinary bladder carcinoma. In cases of urethral involvement, additional urethrectomy is indicated.