Do concerns about more advanced pathological features increase the likelihood of neurovascular bundle resection in black men undergoing radical prostatectomy?

PURPOSE

Traditionally black men undergoing radical prostatectomy have presented with higher serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, Gleason grade and pathological stage compared to white men. We evaluated men undergoing radical prostatectomy at our institutions to determine if race was an independent predictor of neurovascular bundle resection and if racial differences existed with regard to clinical and pathological outcomes in men undergoing a nerve sparing procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 1995 and March 2000, 316 men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Patient data were gathered prospectively and reviewed with regard to age, race, preoperative serum PSA, operative procedure, pathological findings and patient followup. Racial differences were analyzed by the chi-square test or student's t statistic. Predictors of neurovascular bundle resection were evaluated using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of the 316 men who underwent a radical retropubic prostatectomy, 126 were black and 190 were white. Overall, a nerve sparing procedure was performed in 77 (40.5%) white men and 44 (34.9%) black men. When evaluating only potent men preoperatively, a nerve sparing prostatectomy was performed in 69.3% of white men and 58.6% of black men. There was no statistically significant racial difference with regard to the proportions of men undergoing a nerve sparing procedure. Predictors of neurovascular bundle resection during radical prostatectomy were preoperative erectile function, serum PSA level before prostate biopsy, biopsy Gleason score and number of cores positive for cancer. In men undergoing a nerve sparing radical prostatectomy there were no significant racial differences with regard to age, preoperative serum PSA, Gleason score, pathological stage, postoperative potency, continence or disease-free survival (mean followup 44 months).

CONCLUSIONS

At our institutions a similar proportion of black and white men undergo nerve sparing radical prostatectomy, which appears to produce similar clinical outcomes in black and white men.