Localized prostate carcinoma treated with TUR and neodymium-YAG laser irradiation.

Neodymium-YAG laser irradiation subsequent to extended transurethral resection has been practised in our department since 1981 as an alternative treatment for patients with localized prostate carcinoma. The treatment is performed endoscopically in two separate steps. The procedure is simple and complications are few. One hundred and twenty-four patients have been treated and followed up for more than 6 months. One hundred and ten patients are evaluated as disease free survivors and the overall actuarial disease free survival rate is 88% at 4-9 years of follow-up. The initial promising results persist and the results from other clinics confirm the method to be a fair alternative or patients with localized prostate carcinoma.