Early (stage A) prostatic cancer. VI. A critical look at the follow-up.

The 4 year follow-up of an original series of 100 patients treated by subtotal prostatectomy and analysed on histopathological grounds is presented. 87 out of 100 were traced and were in the following groups: 37/45 A1, 27/29 A2, 10/12 A3, 13/14 benign prostatic hyperplasia. No therapy was performed. All three patients who died of prostatic carcinoma fitted into substage A3, all three patients living with metastases fitted into A1. The progression observed is significant when related to the brief interval of time, the size of the prostatic microcarcinoma and the histological grade (well differentiated tubular carcinomas in 5 out of 6 cases). Prostatectomy with capsulectomy is strongly recommended in order to prevent progression.