Cryoablation of the prostate - an alternative therapeutic option in locally advanced prostate cancer?

Perineal ultrasound-guided cryoablation of the prostate is being investigat ed as an alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of prostate cancer . If offers a minimal-invasive option with curative potential for patients with localized disease, who present with contraindications to radical prost atectomy, or who are not willing to undergo a radical procedure. Results co ncerning complications and short-term follow-up are promising, but lacking long-term results on survival and biochemical failure rates prevent definit ion of the significance of this procedure in the treatment of localized pro state cancer. Cryoablation also has an indication in locally advanced prost ate cancer with extraprostatic extension, for which curative therapeutic co ncepts were limited until recent development of modern cryosurgery. In this setting cryosurgery has the technical advantage to freeze beyond the prost ate capsule, so that even patients with capsular penetration might be cured . Careful preoperative planning and recognition of areas of extraprostatic extension might result in a potentially curative therapy in locally advance d prostate cancer.