Structural study of endopelvic fascia in prostates of different weights. Anatomic study applied to radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the structure of the endopelvic fascia in prostates of different weights.

METHODS

We studied 10 patients with BPH (prostates> 90 g); 10 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PAC) (prostates< 60 g) and five young male cadavers (control group). During the surgery a small sample of endopelvic fascia was obtained. We analyzed elastic fibers, collagen and smooth muscle. The stereological analysis was done with the Image Pro and Image J programs. Means were statistically compared using the one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni test and a p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean of the prostate weight was 122 g in BPH patients, 53.1g in PAC patients and 18.6g in control group. Quantitative analysis documented that there are no differences (p=0.19) in Vv of elastic fibers and in Vv of type III collagen (p=0.88) between the three groups. There was a significant difference (p=0<0.0001) in the quantification of SMC in patients with prostates > 90 g (mean=9.61%) when compared to patients with prostates < 60 g (mean=17.92%) and with the control group (mean=33.35%).

CONCLUSION

There are differences in endopelvic fascia structure in prostates> 90 g, which can be an additional factor for pre-operatory evaluation of radical prostatectomy.