Ultrasensitive Prostate Specific Antigen Assay Following Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy – An Outcome Measure for Defining the Learning Curve

摘要

INTRODUCTIONRadical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) performed laparoscopically is a popular treatment with curative intent for organ-confined prostate cancer. After surgery, prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels drop to low levels which can be measured with ultrasensitive assays. This has been described in the literature for open RRP but not for laparoscopic RRP. This paper describes PSA changes in the first 300 consecutive patients undergoing non-robotic laparoscopic RRP by a single surgeon.