Viewpoint in 2004

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) is a product of the evolution of standard open to minimally invasive surgery. The next step on this evolutionary path has been the emergence of robotic LRP. Here, Thomas Ahlering presents his view of the comparative benefits and pitfalls of these two techniques.

Witjes and Debruyne outline how recent investigations of indications for intravesical chemotherapy might affect current strategies for the management of superficial bladder cancer. Recommendations for the use of chemotherapeutics are made on the basis of the risk of recurrence and progression of this increasingly common disease.

Hollenbeck and Montie discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls of early extirpative surgery for T1 bladder cancer. The authors identify risk factors that, in their opinion, should prompt clinicians to consider radical cystectomy rather than a more conservative regimen of resection, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis are presently based on unsupported assumptions and a nonvalidated classification scheme. Here, Richard Alexander summarizes research by the Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network that challenges the assumptions and indicates that ongoing empiric administration of antimicrobial drugs to men with long-standing prostatitis should be abandoned.