Transperitoneal or extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: does the approach matter?

PURPOSE: : The greater accuracy of apical dissection and reconstruction in our first 100 patients undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (TLRP) was not matched by a proportionate increase in the rate of return to normal continence compared with our prior open prostatectomy experience. We postulated that greater bladder dysfunction due to the almost total bladder dissection mandated by TLRP might be responsible and this might be rectified by the adoption of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using an extraperitoneal approach (ELRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: : A total of 100 patients undergoing TLRP were compared with 100 undergoing ELRP. The groups were subdivided into halves to investigate the influence of any learning curve effect. All patients had clinical stage T3aN0M0 or less prostate cancer and they were operated on by a single surgeon. RESULTS: : Mean operative time (238.9 vs 190.6 minutes), blood loss (310.5 vs 201.5 ml), postoperative hospitalization (3.8 vs 2.6 nights) and catheterization duration (11.3 vs 10.1 days) were significantly greater in the TLRP group. After the first 50 cases were excluded in each group statistical significance persisted only for operative time (218.3 vs 184.2 minutes) and hospitalization (3.5 vs 2.5 nights). The pad-free rate was significantly lower 3 months following ELRP (80% vs 56%, p = 0.02). The overall 12-month pad-free rate for TLRP and ELRP was 90% and 96%, respectively. The overall 12-month erection rate for TLRP and ELRP was 61% and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: : ELRP is superior to TLRP with respect to operative time, hospitalization and early continence.

Primary cultures of prostate cells and their ability to activate carcinogens.

Differences in the incidence of prostate cancer (CaP) amongst different migrant populations point to causative agents of dietary and/or environmental origin. Prostate tissues were obtained following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or radical retropubic prostatectomy. After surgery, TURP-derived or tumour-adjacent tissue fragments were minced in warm PFMR-4A medium (37 degrees C) and suspensions pipetted into collagen-coated petri dishes. Non-adherent material was removed by washing with fresh medium after 12 h. Adhered cells subsequently reacted positively with monoclonal antibodies to prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA was also detected in the medium. The genotoxicities of the chemical carcinogens 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP), its N-hydroxy metabolite (N-OH-PhIP) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in adherent cell populations from different donors (n=8) were examined. Cells were treated in suspension for 30 min at 37 degrees C in the presence of the DNA repair inhibitors hydroxyurea (HU) and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). DNA single-strand breaks were detected in cells by the alkaline single cell-gel electrophoresis ('Comet') assay and quantified by measuring comet tail length (CTL) in microm. All three carcinogens induced dose-related increases in CTLs (P<0.0001) in cells from four donors 24 h post-seeding. However, in cells from a further two donors the genotoxic effects of PhIP, N-OH-PhIP and B[a]P were much less apparent after 48 h than after 24 h in culture. After 96 h in culture, cells from these donors appeared to be resistant to the comet-forming activity of the compounds. However, B[a]P-DNA adducts were still measurable by (32)P-postlabelling for up to 14 days following a 24-h exposure to 50 microM B[a]P in adhered cells from another two donors. This study shows that primary cultures of cells derived from the prostate can activate members of two classes of chemical carcinogens. Further development may provide a robust model system in which to investigate the aetiology of CaP.

Acute segmental testicular infarction: differentiation from tumour using high frequency colour Doppler ultrasound.

Segmental testicular infarction is rare, of variable aetiology but usually idiopathic. B-mode ultrasound may demonstrate a focal mass indistinguishable from a testicular tumour, with confirmation only achieved following surgery. We report a case of segmental testicular infarction presenting as a heterogeneous mass on B-mode ultrasound, confidently diagnosed as an area of infarction on high frequency colour Doppler ultrasound and proven on histology. The pre-operative differentiation of tumour from segmental infarction allows testis-sparing surgery.

The influence of dietary and environmental factors on prostate cancer risk.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy found in males and one of the most common causes of cancer death. The epidemiology implicates environmental and nutritional factors in the initiation and progression of the disease. Identification of these factors would allow chemoprevention strategies to be tested. Potent mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are produced in cooked meat, and following metabolic activation some of them are strongly associated with prostate carcinogenesis in rodents. Primary cell cultures of human prostate epithelial cells were obtained from patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. Metabolic activation of the cooked food carcinogens 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo- [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) was examined and resultant DNA damage (single strand breaks) measured using the Comet assay. Increased concentrations of carcinogen were associated with increased DNA damage and comet tail length compared to controls. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2000) 3, 256-258