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Repeat prostate biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy do not impact erectile function recovery and mid‐ to long‐term continence
Author(s) -
Furrer Marc A.,
Vilaseca Antoni,
Corradi Renato B.,
Boxler Silvan,
Thalmann George N.,
Nguyen Daniel P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.23509
Subject(s) - prostatectomy , medicine , urology , prostate cancer , biopsy , prostate biopsy , odds ratio , erectile dysfunction , surgery , urinary continence , cancer
Background A growing number of men undergo repeat biopsies prior to radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. However, the long‐term impact of repeat biopsies on functional outcomes in this patient population remains unelucidated. Thus, we compared functional outcomes between patients who underwent single biopsy versus repeat biopsies before radical prostatectomy. Methods From 1996 to 2015, 1015 consecutive patients underwent radical prostatectomy, and subsequently had urinary continence and erectile function assessed for >2 years follow‐up. One‐fourth of patients (275; 27%) had ≥2 biopsies before prostatectomy. Logistic regression models tested whether repeat biopsy before prostatectomy predicted continence or erectile function recovery. Results For the overall cohort, continence rates were 84%, 92%, 96%, and 98% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Repeat biopsy before prostatectomy was associated with lower continence rate at 3 months compared to single biopsy ( P = 0.03); however, no significant differences were observed at 6, 12, or 24 months. In multivariable analyses adjusting for age, body mass index and diabetes/cardiovascular disease/smoking, the association between repeat biopsy and lower likelihood of continence at 3 months remained (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.47‐0.97; P = 0.03). Overall erectile function recovery rates were 16%, 33%, 51%, and 55% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. No difference in erectile function recovery rates was seen at any time point for single biopsy versus repeat biopsy. In multivariable analyses, repeat biopsy was not predictive of erectile function recovery at any time point. Conclusions Repeat biopsy before radical prostatectomy impairs early continence after surgery. However, erectile function recovery and mid‐term to long‐term continence are not affected. These data support the current trend towards active surveillance and delayed local treatment in patients with low‐ to intermediate‐risk prostate cancer.