Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most frequently occurring malignancy among men in Germany, with 60 000 new cases each year. Three of every four tumors are detected at an early, localized stage, when various curative treatment strategies are possible. METHODS: A selective search of the literature in PubMed accompanied by consideration of guidelines from Germany and other countries. RESULTS: Owing to the usually prolonged natural course of localized prostate cancer, local treatment is recommended for patients with a life expectancy of at least 10 years. The established treatments with curative intent are radical prostatectomy, percutaneous radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, with active surveillance as a further option for patients with low-risk disease. The eventual choice of treatment is determined by tumor stage, risk group, comorbidities, and patient preference. Conversations with the patient must cover not only the oncological outcome but also the potential adverse effects of the different treatment options. Depending on the procedure, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and inflammation of the bladder and/or rectum may be frequently occurring complications. CONCLUSION: A number of curative and other treatments are available for patients with localized prostate cancer. The goal is to identify the appropriate option for each individual patient by means of detailed discussion.