Does laser ablation prostatectomy lead to oncological compromise?

OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence and outcome of incidental prostate cancer detected at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and to evaluate whether laser ablation prostatectomy would miss significant cancer by failing to provide tissue for histopathological analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Information on TURP‐detected prostate cancer was gathered from 1996 to 2006, from The South‐west Cancer Intelligence Service, hospital‐operating and coding records, histopathology databases and The British Association of Urological Surgeons Cancer Registry. We recorded the total number of prostate cancers diagnosed per year, number of TURPs performed, Gleason scores and patients outcomes. RESULTS TURP‐detected prostate cancer has declined since the relatively high rates (22%) recorded locally in 1996–97. Between 2001 and 2006, a mean (range) of 124 (111–135) prostate cancers were detected per year. Incidental cancers accounted for only 1.5–5.6% of all newly diagnosed prostate cancers per year. Incidental cancers had a mean (sem) Gleason score of 5.7 (0.3) compared to 8.0 (0.3) in known cancers (P