Laparoscopic Versus Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Few randomized, controlled trials have compared standard abdominal sacrocolpopexy and the laparoscopic approach. We tested the hypothesis that laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy could compete with abdominal sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, controlled trial was done to compare laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and abdominal sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse repair in women referred to our tertiary Department of Urology for symptomatic stage 2 or greater pelvic organ prolapse. The primary outcome was quantitative evaluation by the POP-Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification) system. Cure was defined as prolapse stage 1 or less, point C/D -5 or less at the apex and at least 7 cm total vaginal length. Secondary outcomes were the complication rate, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay and PGI-I (Patient Global Impression of Improvement) scores. The Kaplan-Meier estimator with the log-rank test was used to estimate pelvic organ prolapse recurrence-free survival rates. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were eligible for study. We compared 60 and 61 patients treated with abdominal and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, respectively. At a mean followup of 41.7 months the cure rate was of 100% for both approaches. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that overall pelvic organ prolapse recurrence-free survival was longer following the open approach. Patients treated with laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy showed significantly earlier recurrence (p = 0.030), mostly in the first 12 months after surgery. When evaluating the different compartments, a statistically significant difference was observed between the laparoscopic and abdominal approaches for anterior compartment descensus (11 vs 1, p = 0.004). Statistical results had high internal validity but may not be applicable to other populations or settings. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy provides outcomes as good as those of abdominal sacrocolpopexy for anatomical correction but not for anterior pelvic organ prolapse.

Influence of hormonal therapy in prostate cancer patients undergoing [18F]fluoromethyl choline PET/CT: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with suspected recurrence of prostate cancer undergoing [18F]fluoromethyl choline ([18F]FCH) PET/CT were retrospectively evaluated to investigate the influence of hormonal therapy (HT) in [18F]FCH uptake. METHODS: [18F]FCH PET/CT was performed in 102 surgically treated patients with suspected recurrence (PSA increase >0.2 ng/mL) of prostate cancer, divided in two groups: under HT (N.=54) and without HT (N.=48) at the time of PET scanning. PET/CT was carried out by an integrated system (Biograph 6, CTI/Siemens, Knoxville, TN, USA) intravenously by administering 4.1 MBq/kg of [18F]FCH to each patient; images were acquired 60 minutes later. RESULTS: On the total number of patients, 66 were found to be true positives (TP), 9 false positives (FP), 5 false negatives (FN) and 22 true negatives (TN), sensitivity to [18F]FCH PET/CT was 93%, specificity 71%, accuracy 86%, positive predictive value (PPV) 88%, negative predictive value (NPV) 81%. In the 54 patients under HT, 38 were TP, 6 FP, 3 FN and 7 TN, sensitivity was 93%, specificity 54%, accuracy 83%, PPV 86% and NPV was 70%. In the 48 patients receiving no HT, 28 were TP, 3 FP, 2 FN and 15 TN, sensitivity was 93%, specificity 83%, accuracy 90%, PPV 90% and NPV 88%. A χ2 test showed that sensitivity, accuracy and PPV did not differ among patients with and without HT, while specificity and NPV were significantly lower (P<0.001) in HT treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity, accuracy and PPV were similar in patients with and without HT. Specificity and NPV were reduced in patients under HT, but further data are necessary to support if this reduction is casual or related to therapy and it could be confirmed in a larger series of patients.

Laparoscopic Management of Vaginal Vault Prolapse Recurring after Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increasing success of surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, recurrent vaginal vault prolapse is not rare. We present a step-by-step laparoscopic approach with a sacral colpopexy (SC) for treatment of recurrent vault prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2006, 25 women presenting with symptomatic recurrent vault prolapse were prospectively evaluated and treated with laparoscopic SC. This article briefly describes all of the steps that are required to conduct a proper surgery in such cases. RESULTS: After previous abdominal sacropexy, both the dissection of adherences and restoration of normal pelvic anatomy were challenging. As result, the overall operating time was longer in patients who had undergone abdominal sacropexy vs. vaginal route, p = 0.032. No significant peri- or postoperative complications were observed. At a mean follow-up of 41 months, all women presented with less than stage 2 prolapse and high levels of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the need for an intraoperative step-by-step surgical safety checklist, the laparoscopic repair of recurrent vault prolapse is technically feasible, safe and effective.

Robotic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Advanced Stage Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The current report describes the feasibility of robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RRPLND), including some technical tricks for port placement for both right- and left-sided surgery. METHODS: Patients with advanced stage retroperitoneal disease underwent RRPLND using the 4-arm da Vinci Si Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.). In both cases, the field of dissection was an ipsilateral template for lymph node dissection. RESULTS: RRPLND in such configuration was safe and effective in both cases. The illustrated port placement with perpendicular docking of the robot allowed for a wide range of motion with limited external clashing, providing sufficient space for the assistant surgeon. The operative time was 300 min (including docking and console time), with no perioperative complications and short hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The port configuration for right- or left-sided unilateral template RRPLND was feasible, permitting a wide range of motion for the robotic arms and thus facilitating an efficient and safe dissection.

The S.A.C.S. (Satisfaction-Anatomy-Continence-Safety) score for evaluating pelvic organ prolapse surgery: a proposal for an outcome-based scoring system.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To date, there is no overall consensus on the definition of cure after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The aim of the study was to design and test the scoring system S.A.C.S. (Satisfaction-Anatomy-Continence-Safety) to assess and compare the outcomes of POP repair. METHODS: A total of 233 women underwent open sacrocolpopexy. The S.A.C.S. outcome scoring system was scheduled at 24 months of follow-up, and each component was detected according to: Satisfaction by mean of Patient Global Improvement Inventory scale, Anatomy by mean of POP Quantification system and bulge symptom, Continence by mean of pad use, and Safety by mean of the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications. Each component produced a binary nominal categorical variable (1 or 0), with a total score of 4 representing cure. As a comparative tool, patients answered a simple yes/no question: "If you had to undergo surgery all over again, would you still do it?". The degree of concordance was estimated using Cohen's Kappa test. RESULTS: According to the S.A.C.S. scoring system, only 160 patients (68.6 %) reached the maximum score of cure. Sensitivity of the S.A.C.S. score was 74.1 %, specificity was 90 %, total diagnostic capacity was 75.5 %. The S.A.C.S. score internal consistency was good; the k-coefficient was higher for the satisfaction component of the score (k = 0.560). CONCLUSION: This study proposes an original, simple post-operative scoring system integrating satisfaction, anatomy, continence, and safety reports for patients undergoing surgery for POP, providing a complete, although perfectible, method to accurately report outcomes in all clinical scenarios.

Use of the Prostate Health Index for the Detection of Aggressive Prostate Cancer at Radical Prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: In current study, we compared the accuracy of the PSA isoform p2PSA and its derivatives, the percentage of p2PSA to free PSA (%p2PSA) and the Prostate Health Index (PHI) in the detection of prostate cancer (PC) characteristics at the xFB01;nal pathology with respect to reference standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational prospective study evaluating 43 consecutive PC patients treated with laparoscopic/robotic radical prostatectomy (RP). Logistic regression models were fitted to test the predictors of pT3 stage, pathologic Gleason score ≥ 8 or Gleason score upgrading, margin status, lymph node invasion, and the presence of high-risk disease (pT3 disease and/or Gleason score ≥ 8 and/or positive lymph node). The comparative base model included tPSA, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, and percentage of positive core. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (39.5%) were affected by pT3 disease or had a pathologic Gleason score ≥ 8; positive margins were detected in 12 patients (27.9%), lymph node invasion was found in 2 patients (4.7%), and 15 patients (34.8%) harbored high-risk disease. In the univariate analysis, p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI were significant predictors of pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason score, and the presence of high-risk disease (all p < 0.05), whereas only PHI was an independent predictor of pT3 disease, margin status, and presence of high-risk disease, increasing the accuracy of a base multivariable model by 6.3% (p < 0.05) and 4.2% (p < 0.05) for the prediction of pT3 and high-risk disease, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: p2PSA and its derivatives, primarily PHI, were significant predictors of unfavorable PC characteristics as detected at the xFB01;nal pathology, thus improving the clinical performance of standard prognostic factors for aggressive disease.

Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen isoform p2PSA and its derivates, %p2PSA, prostate health index and prostate dimension-adjusted related index in the detection of prostate cancer at first biopsy: an exploratory, prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the accuracy of serum proPSA (p2PSA) and its derivatives, percentage of p2PSA to free PSA (%p2PSA) and Prostate Health Index (PHI) and to test the value of prostate dimension-adjusted related index p2PSA density (p2PSAD), %p2PSA density (%p2PSAD) and PHI density (PHID) in discriminating between patients with and without prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of 275 patients with a total PSA (tPSA) of 2-10 ng/ml who underwent initial prostate biopsy. Multivariate logistic regression models were complemented by predictive accuracy analysis. RESULTS: PCa was diagnosed in 31.2% of subjects. Median tPSA did not differ between groups, while PSA density (PSAD), percent free PSA (%fPSA), p2PSA, %p2PSA, PHI, p2PSAD, %p2PSAD and PHID (all p < 0.05) were different between men with and without PCa. Univariate accuracy analysis showed p2PSAD (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUC]: 0.71), %p2PSAD (AUC: 0.76) and PHID (AUC: 0.77) to be the most accurate predictors of PCa at biopsy, significantly outperforming tPSA (AUC: 0.54), PSAD (AUC: 0.68) and %fPSA (AUC: 0.59) (p ≤ 0.001). At multivariate logistic regression models, p2PSAD and PHID significantly increased the accuracy of the basal multivariate model (all p < 0.01). At 90% specificity, sensitivity for p2PSAD, %p2PSAD and PHID were 33.7, 43 and 40.7%, respectively. Spearman's rho coefficient analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between Gleason score, %p2PSA (r = 0.216, p = 0.046), PHI (r = 0.223, p = 0.039) and %p2PSAD (r = 0.205, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering patients suited for initial prostate biopsy by a tPSA range of 2-10 ng/ml, PSA isoforms were confirmed to be strong predictors of PCa. The prostate dimension-adjusted PSA isoforms have been shown to differentiate between patients with or without PCa, with an AUC of 0.71-0.77, p2PSAD offering a gain in accuracy with respect to tPSA, %fPSA and PSAD.

External validation of nomogram predicting the probability of specimen-confined disease (pT2-3a, R0N0) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection.

INTRODUCTION: Before radical prostatectomy (RP), a nomogram [Briganti et al., Eur Urol 2012;61:584-592] permits to measure the probability of specimen-confined (SC) disease (pT2-pT3a, node negative with negative margins) in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of our study was to perform an external validation of this nomogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2011, 623 patients with high-risk PCa (prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/ml and/or biopsy Gleason score ≥8 and/or clinical stage T3) underwent RP and pelvic lymph node dissection at tertiary referral centers. Multivariable logistic regression models predicting the presence of SC disease were built in; we then used the area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis to quantify accuracy of the nomogram to predict SC disease. The extent of over- or underestimation was evaluated within calibration plots. RESULTS: 29% (181/623) of men had SC disease at RP. Preoperative PSA, biopsy Gleason score and stage differed significantly (all p < 0.001) between men with SC disease and those without. External validation of the nomogram showed an acceptable accuracy (area under curve: 66.3, 95% CI 62.4-70%) and a perfect calibration plot. CONCLUSIONS: The external cohort validates the original nomogram, with perfect calibration characteristics. The adequate although reduced accuracy may reflect the wide spectrum and behavior of the so-called high-risk PCa.

Low serum testosterone levels are predictive of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Although hormones play fundamental roles in prostate growth, their clinical significance is not completely clear. Aims of present study were to assess whether testosterone and serum sex hormone levels are predictors of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer (PC) and to verify whether prostate cancer is associated with low testosterone levels, and to test association between testosterone levels and known prognostic factors in prostate cancer. METHODS: In 206 consecutive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels were tested and correlated with disease. In patients with prostate cancer, hormone levels were also correlated with known prognostic factors. Predictive value was assessed for age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA ratio, PSA density, prostate volume and serum sex hormone levels using multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Considering sex hormones, only testosterone levels were significantly lower in patients with prostate cancer than those with BPH; testosterone levels appear to be independent predictor of prostate cancer, enhancing predictive accuracy for BPH and PC. Testosterone levels do not seem to be associated with known clinical prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports experimental findings that testosterone levels are predictor of prostate cancer and that prostate cancer is frequently associated with low testosterone levels. In the diagnostic work-up for prostate cancer, adding testosterone determination to PSA test may improve predictive accuracy.

Changes in female sexual function after pelvic organ prolapse repair: role of hysterectomy.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) have an impact on sexuality. Few studies evaluate the impact of hysterectomy on sexual function. We designed the present observational prospective longitudinal cohort study in order to evaluate the impact of uterus preservation after POP repair on sexual function. METHODS: Between January 2006 and January 2011, 107 patients with POP, mean age 58 ± 8.9 years, underwent colposacropexy with or without hysterectomy. All the women without uterine disease were offered the chance to preserve the uterus. All patients gave written informed consent and completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, before and after surgery, provided detailed case history, underwent urogynaecological examination and urodynamic assessment and completed the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact on Quality of Life short form (IIQ-7) questionnaires, and the satisfaction Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One year after surgery patients repeated the FSFI questionnaire and underwent a clinical check-up. The primary end-point was post-operative sexual function as evaluated by the FSFI, the secondary end-points were objective anatomical and subjective success, defined respectively as no prolapse and no incontinence-related symptoms. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included: 32 underwent uterus-sparing surgery and 36 hysterectomy plus colposacropexy. After surgery both groups had significant improvements in the total FSFI score and in the domains of desire, arousal and orgasm. The median post-operative scores of desire, arousal, and orgasm domains showed significant improvements in the uterus-sparing group compared with the hysterectomy group. None of the women had a uterine or vault prolapse recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that POP plays a role in female sexual dysfunction and uterus sparing surgery is associated with a greater improvement in sexual function.

Adrenal oncocytic neoplasm: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Oncocytic neoplasms as tumors arising in the adrenal glands are rare, usually considered as nonfunctional and benign. In the current literature, there are extremely limited reports of adrenal oncocytic neoplasms; as to date, only 147 cases have been described. The rarity of the event prompted this study which reviews and presents the incidence, histology, diagnosis and therapy of adrenal oncocytic neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review by systematic literature search was done using the MEDLINE®/Cochrane libraries from 1950 to date using the medical subject headings 'oncocytoma', 'adrenal gland', 'adrenal oncocytoma', 'adrenal oncocytic neoplasm' and 'adrenal oncocytic carcinoma'. RESULTS: Adrenal oncocytic neoplasm is a rare disease, usually incidentally detected because only 17% are functional adrenal masses. The typical oncocyte displays abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, due to the accumulation of mitochondria. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are not able to identify or differentiate benign and malignant oncocytic neoplasms. The mainstay of therapy is adrenalectomy, recently performed by laparoscopy. The prognosis is good for benign tumors, while adrenocortical oncocytic carcinoma has a poor survival rate of only 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal oncocytic neoplasm, a rare and mostly benign tumor, usually presents as an incidental, large adrenal mass; surgery is the mainstay of therapy, by means of laparoscopy which is now the most diffuse approach to adrenalectomy.

Urgency, detrusor overactivity and posterior vault prolapse in women who underwent pelvic organ prolapse repair.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the relationship between posterior vault prolapse and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms or detrusor overactivity (DO) and their changes after surgical repair. METHODS: Forty-three patients with vault prolapse and prevalent posterior compartment prolapse underwent pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery: 28 received colposacropexy and 15 were treated by the vaginal approach. Subjective success was lack of prolapse-related symptoms or urgency. OAB symptoms, voiding symptoms and constipation were evaluated. Patient satisfaction was defined by a visual analog scale score (range 0-10). Objective anatomical success was defined as no vaginal prolapse of stage ≥2 at any vaginal site. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 75 months (range 24-143). Preoperatively, 33/43 patients (76.74%) reported urgency. DO was found in 11/43 patients (25.6%), and 22/43 patients reported constipation. The anatomical outcome showed 2 persistent stage II rectoceles (6.9%). After surgery, OAB symptoms disappeared in 25/33 (75.88%) and persisted in 8 patients (24.2%); there was no de novo urgency. DO disappeared in 8/11 subjects (72.7%). Preoperative constipation was present in 17/33 patients with OAB symptoms (51.5%) and disappeared postoperatively in 13/17 patients (76.4%) (p < 0.013). De novo constipation appeared in 3 patients (associated with OAB in 2 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent posterior compartment pelvic organ prolapse and OAB/DO were often associated. After surgery, OAB symptoms and DO were significantly reduced.

Perugia ileal neobladder: functional results and complications.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term functional results and complications of an orthotopic ileal neobladder, defined as perugia ileal neobladder (PIN), in a group of patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy (RC). METHODS: Between 1993 and 2009, 237 consecutive patients who underwent RC for non-metastatic bladder cancer and orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction were enrolled. The neobladder was created using a modified Camey-II technique and consisted of a detubularized ileal loop of 45 cm using a vertical "Y" shape. Complications (<90 days) were reviewed and staged according to Clavien-Dindo classification and evaluated at long-term follow-up. Standard monitoring for cancer recurrence (computerized tomography, bone scan), cystourethrography, urodynamics and frequency/volume charts were performed during follow-up. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 64 months, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 64 %. Early complications were mostly grade I and II; grade III and IV complications were observed in 27 patients. Perioperative mortality rate was 1.6 %. The most frequent late complications were neobladder-ureteral reflux, urolithiasis and urethral anastomotic stricture. Daytime and nighttime urinary continence were 93.5 and 83.9 %, respectively. All patients were able to completely empty neobladders. Twenty patients were followed up for at least 10 years and presented satisfactory functional results. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical morbidity of RC and orthotopic neobladder was significant; however, the rate of grade III-IV complications was low. The long-term functional results of the PIN were interesting, confirming that appropriate patients' selection, adequate surgical technique, accurate patients' counseling and follow-up are essential.

Intermittent androgen suppression in prostate cancer: testosterone levels and its implication.

INTRODUCTION: Intermittent androgen suppression (IAS) in patients affected by prostate cancer seems to lessen the severity of the side effects that are associated with continuous androgen ablation. AIM: This report monitors the effect of IAS on testosterone values, quality of life, and sexual function during phases of therapy. METHODS: A total of 100 patients entered a prospective study of IAS. Androgen blockade was prolonged until a serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) nadir was reached and then resumed for a PSA threshold of 10 ng/mL, in repeated cycles. During I phase, we assessed testosterone levels, well-being with quality-of-life score, and sexual function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients were followed up every 3 months with PSA and total testosterone determinations, and with quality-of-life score using a 10-point questionnaire. Side effects were assessed using yes/no questions. Sexual function was assessed using yes/no questions and in the sexually active patients with International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF). RESULTS: All patients completed I cycle of treatment (I ON plus I OFF phase). During the OFF phase, 46% of patients showed low testosterone levels, while the others recovered normal testosterone concentrations at a mean of 6.2 months after therapy. There is a negative correlation between baseline PSA values and length of OFF phase and testosterone recovery, and a negative correlation between length of OFF phase and testosterone value during OFF phase. Worsening in Quality of Life (QOL) was significant during active treatment with respect to baseline, but therapy withdrawal showed a positive impact with respect to treatment period. Improvement in quality of life correlated to testosterone recovery and time to testosterone recovery. Fifty-four percent of subjects had normal sexual intercourse at therapy withdrawal, with a correspondence to time to testosterone recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life and sexual function seem to follow testosterone normalization. These results could have implications in the analysis of IAS.

Five-year outcome of uterus sparing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse repair: a single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The study aims to report an extended follow-up of our case series of sacrohysteropexy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: Fifty-five patients with symptomatic POP underwent uterus sparing surgery. All patients were followed up for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and then annually. Objective success was defined as a well-supported cervix and no vaginal prolapse stage ≥ 2. Subjective success was no prolapse-related symptoms or voiding disorder. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 60 ± 34 months. Anterior compartment prolapse (cystocele) stage ≥ 2 was present in four out of 52 patients (7.7%), while posterior compartment prolapse (rectocele) stage ≥ 2 was present in three (5.7%). Voiding symptoms were resolved in 42 out of 45 patients (93.4%) and storage symptoms in 30 out of 36 (83.3%); one patient reported de novo urgency. Sexual activity was maintained in 28 out of 29 patients (95.5%). Four patients showed de novo stress urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of uterus preservation, with significative objective and subjective outcomes in treating POP.

Iatrogenic trapped penis in adults: new, simple 2-stage repair.

PURPOSE: We present a new, 2-stage functional and cosmetic reconstruction of concealed penis in adults with short-term subjective outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with excess penile skin removal, shaft tissue scarring and penile retraction with poor functional and cosmetic results underwent 2-stage repair. At stage 1 after a coronal incision and penile degloving an intrascrotal tunnel was formed and the penis was transposed through the scrotum. Three or 4 zero or 2-zero nonresorbable sutures were applied ventral to the penis, crossing through the entire scrotum to ensure complete scrotal skin adhesion to the penis (penile scrotalization). At stage 2 after 6 to 12 weeks the scrotal skin at the penile base was incised bilaterally to separate the skin around the penis from the remaining scrotal skin (penile descrotalization). Evaluation was scheduled 3, 6 and 9 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Ten men with concealed penis underwent this 2-stage penile repair, including 8 who were circumcised and 2 who underwent conservative surgery for penile cancer. Mean +/- SD operative time was 75 +/- 15 minutes for stage 1 and 45 +/- 10 minutes for stage 2. No major intraoperative or perioperative complications occurred except superficial scrotal hematoma in 1 patient. At a median followup of 20 months (range 6 to 72) all men were in satisfactory clinical condition and the median patient satisfaction visual analog score was 97 (range 85 to 100). All patients recovered normal spontaneous erection with regular sexual intercourse 4 to 8 weeks after operation 2. CONCLUSIONS: This simple, new 2-stage technique seems feasible and effective, and it is well accepted by patients. Further studies are mandatory to confirm preliminary results.