Pelvic lymphadenectomy with modified radical retropubic prostatectomy as a single operation: technique used and results in 50 consecutive cases.

We evaluated 50 consecutive patients in whom bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with radical retropubic prostatectomy was done using a modified surgical technique. In 3 patients (6 per cent) vesical neck stenosis developed. Excluding 8 cases early in the series in whom pubectomy also was done the long-term incontinence rate was 2.4 per cent. We conclude that this modified technique without pubectomy is quite satisfactory in the management of patients with clinical stages A to C prostatic carcinoma and the complication rate appears to be less than with traditional surgical approaches.