Cryosurgery as primary treatment for localized prostate cancer

To present the early results of the use of third-generation cryotherapy as primary treatment for localized prostate cancer in China.

From January 2006 to December 2009, 102 patients underwent primary cryosurgery for clinically localized prostate cancer. All patients underwent a dual freeze–thaw cycle using third-generation cryotechnology with ultrathin 17-gauge cryoneedles.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level for all patients at the last follow-up visit was less than 0.5 ng/ml in 94 patients (92.2%) and 0.5 ng/ml or more in 8 (7.8%). One patient (1.0%) had recurrent prostate cancer confirmed by prostate biopsy and was treated with salvage cryotherapy. Seven other patients (6.9%) had an elevated PSA level after cryotherapy despite negative posttreatment biopsies and a metastatic evaluation. Of 102 patients, 1 patient was incontinent preoperatively. Of the remaining 101 patients, 4 patients (4.0%) developed mild incontinence requiring 1 to 2 pads per day. Urethral sloughing occurred in 5 of the 102 patients (4.9%) and in 1 of these patients (1.0%) required transurethral resection of sloughing. The rates of erectile dysfunction were 64.1%. No urethral strictures, rectourethral fistulas, urinary retention, or chronic pelvic pain was reported. The median inpatient stay after cryoablation was 3.2 days.

Early results suggest that cryotherapy offers a safe and effective alternative for the primary treatment of localized prostate cancer. Additional studies with longer follow-up are necessary to determine the sustained efficacy of this procedure.