Percutaneous cryoablation of the prostate: preliminary results after 95 procedures.

PURPOSE: We examined the role of percutaneous cryoablation of the prostate in the treatment of prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 95 percutaneous cryoablations of the prostate on 87 patients with prostate cancer. Of the patients 6 had positive lymph nodes preoperatively, radiation failed in 9 and 9 began postoperative hormonal therapy because of treatment failure. Mean patient age, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level (ng./ml.) and Gleason score were 65.4, 12.60 and 6.03, respectively. Median followup was 12 months (mean 9.3, range 1 to 24). In 49 of the 87 patients (56%) the lymph nodes were evaluated before cryoablation based on the treatment protocol.

RESULTS: Median PSA level at 12 months was 0.55 ng./ml. (mean 1.73) with a 17% positive biopsy rate at 3 months. When the positive lymph node, radiation failure and postoperative hormonal therapy groups were removed from analysis, the median PSA level was 0.80 ng./ml. (mean 1.86) with a 5% positive biopsy rate. Of the patients in the radiation failure group 37% had a positive biopsy at 3 months. Cases were classified according to stage, grade and PSA level, and the biopsy results were presented. The complications of percutaneous cryoablation of the prostate were reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS: The low percentage of positive biopsies is encouraging but the significance of the persistent PSA levels remains uncertain.