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Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_5209_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана.pdf
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J. F. Ward
ing a hemisphere of the prostate, cryotherapy was the solitary available energy source [35]. The eld’s armamentarium of ablative energy sources has grown since then, adding high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), irreversible electro­poration (IRE), photodynamic therapy (PDT), focal laser ablation (FLA) or laser interstitial thermotherapy, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), focal brachytherapy, and TULSA-PRO. Simultaneously, the eld evolved into one that is image-based (MRI, Micro-Ultrasound, Micro­bubble enhanced Ultrasound), allowing the energy delivery to be more targeted rather than regional delivery based on systematic random prostate biopsy.
Different regions of the prostate may be more susceptible to the energy delivery of certain sys­tems. For example, HIFU has limited penetration to the anterior prostate; cryoablation may not achieve lethal temperatures in the peri-urethral location with the use of a urethral warming cath­eter; calcications may prohibit both visualiza­tion of the targeted prostate tissue and delivery of energy. Additionally, treating certain regions or volumes of prostate tissue may alter the associ­ated morbidity or the oncologic efcacy. The decision to use one or the other energy source is inuenced by tumor location as different energy sources have a different amount of carry-over to normal, surrounding tissue, or may not carry far enough around the target to eliminate the radio­graphically unseen cancer cells. For example, treatment of patients with apical prostate tumors may have a different morbidity prole than treat­ment of anterior prostate tumors because of the close proximity of both erectile neurovascular bundles and the urinary rhabdosphincter com­plex. We need to understand how location and the energy delivered in this location inuence out­comes, both functional and oncologic.
As focal therapy moves from theory to clini­cally accepted practice, there is an increasing need to be more granular in our reporting of the treatment zone so that we can start to understand the impact of energy source and location on treat­ment outcomes.
Hopstaken etal. evaluated all prostate focal ablation studies between October 2015 and
December 2020 [6]. In reporting on 5827 patients identied from 72 studies, the studies cited only that “Focal Ablation” or “Hemiablation” was performed without any more specicity on location and treatment vol­ume. While this gross description provides us with good evidence that we are generally pro­viding patients with equivalent oncologic and better functional outcomes, the deviation from the median is wide. Within this deviation is the opportunity to further rene our techniques to improve all outcomes. Herein lies the impor­tance of descriptive nomenclature that allows us to communicate exactly what was done and where so that we may further improve the per­sonalization of our prostate cancer treatment with greater precision and condence [7].
The nomenclature used to describe a treat­ment template is independent of the ablative energy employed. Current techniques for focal ablation can be described using one of these terms with small modiers (e.g., Right dominant, Left dominant, etc.).

Focal Therapy Nomenclature

Nerve-Sparing (Unilateral or Bilateral)
The destruction of all prostate tissue from base to apex and from anterior to posterior, except the posterior lateral region on one or both sides near the expected location of the erectile neurovascu­lar bundle(s) (Fig.24.1).
With cryoablation as the destructive energy force, this template can be employed either with or without the use of a cryoprobe positioned near one or both erectile nerves, which is warmed with pressurized helium. This template can also be achieved with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) where the energy is not directed laterally near one or both neurovascular bundles.
It is well-recognized that the posterior/lat­eral location is a common site for prostate can­cer. Canine data have raised concerns about cancer control when this template is employed [8]. Additionally, the location and trajectory of
24 Prostate Focal Therapy: Denitions andCommon Terminology
277
Fig. 24.1 Bilateral nerve sparing ablation
the erectile nerves are now better described and known to exist in a broad swath of peri-pros­tatic tissue, not in a single posterior lateral location [9].
Hemi-Ablation
This is the unilateral (hemisphere) destruction of all prostate tissue that is present to the left or right of the urethra (dictated by the laterality of the tar­geted cancer) and from apex to base, and anterior to posterior (Fig.24.2).
The theoretical benet is to maximally pre­serve the neurovascular bundle contralateral to the treated, cancerous side of the prostate. This can be thought of as unilateral nerve bundle pres­ervation; however, the functional outcomes in the reports by Bahn and Onik where this template was employed are signicantly better than is observed with unilateral nerve bundle preserva­tion at radical prostatectomy [3, 4, 10].
Anterior Hockey-Stick Ablation (Anterior Three-Fourth)
Fig. 24.2 Hemi-ablation
Fig. 24.3 Anterior hockey stick (right dominant with left
wing)
under-sampled, unrecognized cancers within the anterior region of the prostate contralateral to a dominant cancer that exists within the domi­nantly treated prostate hemisphere [11]. At a microscopic level, this template still provides preservation of the contralateral neurovascular bundle because of its delta shape in the peripros­tatic region; yet provides a signicant amount of prostate gland ablation, especially in a region of the prostate that is under-sampled by standard transrectal prostate biopsy.
This is the extension of the hemi-ablation tem­plate across the midline only in the anterior region of the prostate, contralateral to the domi­nant cancer (Fig.24.3).
Described rst by Ward et al., this template has the theoretical benets of treating potentially
Posterior Hockey-Stick Ablation (Posterior Three-Fourth)
Posterior three-fourth ablation is the extension of the hemi-ablation to include the contralateral pos-
278
J. F. Ward
Fig. 24.4 Posterior hockey stick (right dominant with left wing)
terior region (Fig.24.4). The template has the theo­retical advantage of treating almost the entire prostate peripheral zone while avoiding overlap­ping energy delivery to the urethra. However, the posterior peripheral zone of the prostate is better sampled than the anterior zone, and thus, contralat­eral signicant tumors are less likely to be un­sampled by standard prostate biopsy. Additionally, the delta-shaped neurovascular bundle is much more likely to receive lethal energy with this tem­plate, potentially negating the intent to preserve erectile function. A prospective study that employed this template with HIFU as the ablative energy resulted in a decreased time of catheter bladder drainage compared to whole gland HIFU. Thus, this template may offer an improvement in the uri­nary morbidity prole, especially when erectile function is not adequate at baseline [12].
Targeted Focal Therapy
Targeted focal therapy intends to minimize the collateral damage of surrounding normal prostate tissue and accurately target a volume of the pros­tate limited by the volume of the cancer (Fig.24.5).
Because our current ability to visualize pros­tate cancer within the prostate gland is not at the level of sensitivity or specicity that exists in other cancerous organ sites, this template requires very accurate prostate mapping, usu-
Fig. 24.5 Targeted focal therapy
ally achieved through extensive prostate biopsy to create a three-dimensional model of the pros­tate and its contained tumors [13]. It is pro­posed that such a denition of tumor location(s) may be achieved through a transperineal tem­plate-guided saturation biopsy schema fol­lowed by co-registering a three-dimensional image of the patient’s prostate with the histol­ogy [14]. Technical limitations to a saturation mapping biopsy, such as respiratory movement, needle deection, deformation of the prostate with swelling, and contact of the needle upon the capsule, have all called into question the accuracy of the information obtained from this type of extensive saturation biopsy. MP-MRI may provide an alternative approach to target acquisition. Studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging to visualize the delivery of ablative energy are being conducted [1517].
Eventually, it is expected that evolutions in prostate cancer imaging will allow real-time visualization of the tumor within the prostate and will be sufciently sensitive and specic to guide and monitor ablative therapy in real time.
Quadrant (Zonal) Ablation
Zonal ablation is conning the treatment to a region, allowing broad margins beyond known areas of cancer (Fig. 24.6). This form of focal therapy is similar to targeted focal therapy, except it recognizes the inherent inaccuracies of current blinded biopsy strategies, thus ablating a zone of
24 Prostate Focal Therapy: Denitions andCommon Terminology
that describes what our intent is beyond the vagueness of just “focal therapy” is necessary. Our ideas and results will be better communi­cated with our peers through a common nomen­clature. This enables an accurate level of knowledge transfer to thoughtfully move this therapy forward, thereby shifting the entire way we approach men with prostate cancer.

References

Fig. 24.6 Quadrant (zonal) ablation
tissue that contains cancer and a broader margin of normal tissue.
The limitation currently present in “knowing” the histology throughout the prostate due to spac­ing of the saturation biopsy needles, or the limita­tions placed by physics on prostate cancer imaging, has led to the concept of treating the prostate in up to 12 different regions. This concept allows the use of an accurate prostate biopsy map­ping strategy that provides better assurance of an equal sampling of all regions of the prostate [18]. Conceptually, the prostate is divided into anterior and posterior zones consisting of the apex, mid­dle, and base regions of the prostate. On the basis of the biopsy ndings within each zone, ablation of the cancerous zone is performed. This pattern results in a greater rim or margin of regional tis­sue destruction than is achieved with targeted focal therapy, thereby allowing for the lack of pre­cision that may occur using even the most aggres­sive saturation biopsy or imaging physics (i.e., ultrasound wavelength or voxel limitations of magnetic resonance spectroscopy).

Conclusions

As a concept supported by promising preliminary studies, focal therapy for prostate cancer holds tremendous promise to balance the risks of pros­tate cancer treatments with the risks of prostate cancer to the patient himself. Development of this eld will take place at many centers through­out the world simultaneously. A nomenclature
1. Costa DN, Pedrosa I, Donato F Jr, Roehrborn CG, Rofsky NM.MR imaging–transrectal US fusion for targeted prostate biopsies: implications for diag­nosis and clinical management. Radiographics. 2015;35(3):696–708.
2. Kirkham AP, Emberton M, Allen C.How good is MRI at detecting and characterising cancer within the pros­tate? Eur Urol. 2006;50(6):1163–75.
3. Bahn DK, Silverman P, Lee F Sr, Badalament R, Bahn ED, Rewcastle JC.Focal prostate cryoablation: initial results show cancer control and potency preservation. J Endourol. 2006;20(9):688–92.
4. Onik G, Vaughan D, Lotenfoe R, Dineen M, Brady J, editors. The “male lumpectomy”: focal therapy for prostate cancer using cryoablation results in 48 patients with at least 2-year follow-up. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2008.
5. Onik G, Narayan P, Vaughan D, Dineen M, Brunelle R.Focal “nerve-sparing” cryosurgery for treatment of primary prostate cancer: a new approach to preserving potency. Urology. 2002;60(1):109–14.
6. Hopstaken JS, Bomers JG, Sedelaar MJ, Valerio M, Fütterer JJ, Rovers MM.An updated systematic review on focal therapy inlocalized prostate cancer: what has changed over the past 5 years? Eur Urol. 2022;81(1):5–33.
7. Ward JF, Jones JS. Classication system: organ preserving treatment for prostate cancer. Urology. 2010;75(6):1258–60.
8. Janzen NK, Han K-R, Perry KT, Said JW, Schulam PG, Belldegrun AS.Feasibility of nerve-sparing pros­tate cryosurgery: applications and limitations in a canine model. J Endourol. 2005;19(4):520–5.
9. Costello AJ, Dowdle BW, Namdarian B, Pedersen J, Murphy DG. Immunohistochemical study of the cavernous nerves in the periprostatic region. BJU Int. 2011;107(8):1210–5.
10. Davis JW, Chang DW, Chevray P, Wang R, Shen Y, Wen S, etal. Randomized phase II trial evaluation of erectile function after attempted unilateral cavern­ous nerve-sparing retropubic radical prostatectomy with versus without unilateral sural nerve grafting for clinically localized prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2009;55(5):1135–44.
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11. Ward JF, Nakanishi H, Pisters L, Babaian RJ, Troncoso P.Cancer ablation with regional templates applied to prostatectomy specimens from men who were eligible for focal therapy. BJU Int. 2009;104(4):490–7.
12. Muto S, Yoshii T, Saito K, Kamiyama Y, Ide H, Horie S. Focal therapy with high-intensity-focused ultra­sound in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2008;38(3):192–9.
13. Hou AH, Sullivan KF, Crawford ED. Targeted focal therapy for prostate cancer: a review. Curr Opin Urol. 2009;19(3):283–9.
14. Onik G, Barzell W.Transperineal 3D mapping biopsy of the prostate: an essential tool in selecting patients for focal prostate cancer therapy. In: Urologic oncol­ogy: seminars and original investigations. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2008.
15. Raz O, Haider MA, Davidson SR, Lindner U, Hlasny E, Weersink R, et al. Real-time magnetic resonance
imaging–guided focal laser therapy in patients with low-risk prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2010;58(1):173–7.
16. Stafford RJ, Shetty A, Elliott AM, Klumpp SA, McNichols RJ, Gowda A, et al. Magnetic reso­nance guided, focal laser induced interstitial ther­mal therapy in a canine prostate model. J Urol. 2010;184(4):1514–20.
17. Trachtenberg J, Weersink RA, Davidson SR, Haider MA, Bogaards A, Gertner MR, et al. Vascular­targeted photodynamic therapy (padoporn, WST09) for recurrent prostate cancer after failure of external beam radiotherapy: a study of escalating light doses. BJU Int. 2008;102(5):556–62.
18. Megwalu II, Ferguson GG, Wei JT, Mouraviev V, Polascik TJ, Taneja S, etal. Evaluation of a novel pre­cision template-guided biopsy system for detecting prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2008;102(5):546–50.
Focal Therapy forAnterior Cancers
MahdiMottaghi, ArnauldVillers, KaeJackTay, JonathanOlivier, andBrunoNahar
25

Introduction

While nding a precise denition for anterior prostate cancer (APC) is challenging, in simpli­ed terms, APCs are positioned anterior to the prostatic urethra in the mid-prostate transition zone (Fig.25.1a). The dominant segment of the anterior prostate region is the transition zone (TZ), followed by the anterior bromuscular stroma (AFMS) and anterior horns of the periph­eral zone (PZ). Estimates suggest that APCs
M. Mottaghi Duke Cancer Institute and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA e-mail: mahdi.mottaghi@duke.edu
A. Villers · J. Olivier Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, Service Urologie, Andrologie, Transplantation Rénale, Lille, France e-mail: arnauld.villers@wanadoo.fr;
jonathan.olivier@chu-lille.fr
K. J. Tay Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore e-mail: tay.kae.jack@singhealth.com.sg
B. Nahar (*) Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA e-mail: brunonahar@miami.edu
make up around 10–38% of total prostate cancer diagnoses, with the percentages increasing in more recent studies [25]. About 20% of APCs are palpable in digital rectal examination, and thus, they were historically underdiagnosed or usually diagnosed at a later stage compared to posterior tumors [6]. Due to the often late-stage diagnosis of APC, there is a higher incidence of positive surgical margins, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and biochemical recurrence, even after undergoing radical prostatectomy [7, 8]. However, with the introduction of multiparamet­ric MRI (mpMRI) and the latest reporting system (PIRADS version 2.1, which has improved per­formance for TZ tumors), there is a relatively higher potential for early-stage detection. APCs present an ideal opportunity for the application of focal therapy (FT) modalities in highly selected individuals, as the distant location from neuro­vascular bundles maximizes the chances of improved functional outcomes. Clinicians should tailor the treatment modality or energy source based on the size and location of the APC.This personalized approach, known as the “à la carte” model, helps in minimizing side effects. This chapter will discuss the histopathological fea­tures, clinical aspects, and diagnostic challenges of APCs, along with available focal treatment options and future directions.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024 T. J. Polascik et al. (eds.), Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66754-1_25
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Fig. 25.1 (a) Anterior prostate region relative to a hypo- thetical horizontal line, typically drawn at the midpoint of the prostatic urethra. Note the posterior location of semi­nal vesicles for better orientation. Rebello RJ, Oing C, Knudsen KE, Loeb S, Johnson DC, Reiter RE, Gillessen S, Van der Kwast T, Bristow RG.Prostate cancer. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Feb 4;7 (1):9, Springer Nature. (b) Blue: APCs that develop in central TZ; Pink: APCs that
Anatomy andHistopathology
The initial understanding of the zonal anatomy of the prostate goes back to the nineteenth century and ourished in 1968 when McNeal explained three histologically distinct zones (central, peripheral, and transition) and considered the APCs as TZ-originated tumors [9]. Later, APCs were dened as tumors anterior to the prostatic urethra of the mid-gland, which includes anterior horns of the PZ. While some denitions previ­ously included an estimated distance of 17mm from the rectal wall beyond the area sampled by posterior biopsies, but this denition is less appli­cable in the era of mpMRI. Present, clinically relevant anatomy of the prostate based on the
develop near the anterior lateral borders of TZ; Green: AFMS cancers can originate from either PZ or TZ and within the posterior borders of AFMS.Regardless of ori­gin, APCs can bulge anteriorly due to age-related TZ hyperplasia. Courtesy of Bouyé, S. etal., Transition zone and anterior stromal prostate cancers: Zone of origin and intraprostatic patterns of spread at histopathology. Prostate, 2009 69: 105-113 [1]
PIRADS version 2.1 sector map divides the pros­tate into 38 regions/sectors (overall 18 anterior zones) plus two sectors for the seminal vesicles and one for the external urethral sphincter (Fig.25.2) [10].
Almost half of the APCs are in PZ anterior horns, 30–35% in the anterior TZ, and 15–20% in the AFMS [5, 11]. TZ-originated cancers gener­ally show favorable pathologic features and lower biochemical recurrence rates. Even when TZ cancers show high-grade pathology, they produce signicantly higher PSA (with a higher likeli­hood of detection through PSA screening) but lower lymph node invasion, extra-prostatic exten­sion (EPE), positive surgical margins, and semi­nal vesicle invasion [12, 13].
25 Focal Therapy forAnterior Cancers
Fig. 25.2 Sector map of the prostate. Thirty-eight regions/sectors of standardized MRI prostate reporting scheme. Posteriorly (p), axial sections at the apex and mid-gland are subdivided into six sectors, while the base has two additional regions. Anteriorly (a), the prostate is divided into six regions at each axial level. Reprinted from Turkbey B, Rosenkrantz AB, Haider MA, Padhani AR, Villeirs G, Macura KJ, Tempany CM, Choyke PL, Cornud F, Margolis DJ, Thoeny HC, Verma S, Barentsz J, Weinreb JC.Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version
2.1: 2019 Update of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2. Eur Urol. 2019 Sep;76 (3):340-351, with permission from Elsevier
283
Prevalence andDiagnosis
The histologic prevalence of pure anterior/ anterior- dominant PCa is between 10% and 38% [25]. Three studies with a cumulative sample size of over 4100 showed that about 35% of APCs originated from TZ, while almost half had PZ origin [5, 11, 14]. Interestingly, most of these APCs were found in the mid-gland (Fig. 25.3), followed by the apex, with the highest anatomical distribution of PCa being between the mid-gland and apex (0.5–1.3cm from the apex, where the prostatic glandular boundary tapers and meets the urethral sphincter) [5, 11, 1417]. Clinical adoption of mpMRI increased the clinical diag­nosis of APCs over time. As the nodularity and density of the prostatic hyperplasia are heteroge­neous, the interpretation of TZ lesions has always been a challenge (Fig.25.4a). Several validations of PIRADS versions from 2012 (v.1) to 2019 (v2.1) showed that the detection of PZ tumors enhanced signicantly in each version, but this improvement was less pronounced for TZ can­cers [18]. Thus, TZ cancers remain an area with signicant inter-reader disagreement rates. Additionally, an examination of anterior partial prostatectomies indicated that tumor volumes in the anterior region of the prostate are frequently underestimated due to the challenges in MRI interpretation in the TZ and AFMS [19]. As men­tioned earlier, benign prostatic hyperplasia dislo­cates the APCs anteriorly (Fig. 25.1b). Interestingly, MRI often indicates higher false positive rates for EPE in APCs located in the transition zone, as opposed to anterior lesions in the peripheral zone [20].
The spread patterns of APCs also present chal­lenges. Although primary APCs originating from the PZ and TZ typically expand into their corresponding region in AFMS (anterolateral and anteromedial, respectively), this occurs in only about 60% of APC cases. Thus, when evaluating AFMS mpMRI, PIRADS version 2.1 recom­mends using the criteria of the most likely tumor origin (either PZ or TZ). However, exact determi­nation of the AFMS tumor origin is not always possible with MRI and serves as a limitation for this scoring system.
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Fig. 25.3 (a) Demonstrates largest anteroposterior dimensions on sagittal plane of 69 <2 cc APCs of a ~60 g prostate. Histologic prevalence of APCs is lowest in the prostate base and highest in the low-mid gland to apex. Blue, pink, and green colors correspond to the APC ori­gins (Fig. 25.1b). (b) The special distribution of eight APCs with different volumes. TZ-originated APCs extend
from the base toward the apex. Each APC is shown by the surface area outlined by the farthest cancer limits along two axes: anteroposterior and vertical (from base to apex). Courtesy of Bouyé, S. etal., Transition zone and anterior stromal prostate cancers: Zone of origin and intraprostatic patterns of spread at histopathology. Prostate, 2009 69: 105-113 [1]
Fig. 25.4 (a) The radical prostatectomy section with the corresponding whole mount slide with right-sided PCa plus left-side extension (solid line on pathology slide) at the posterior PZ.Note the heterogeneity of the normal left anterior quadrant (dashed circle) with a dense (arrowhead), a spongy (asterisk), and a cystic nodule (x sign) on both slides. All have normal corresponding histology on the whole-mount slide. (b) The cancer core (dashed circle) is predominantly visible, yet it extends tentacles (arrowhead) that are challenging to visualize using contemporary imaging modalities. All pathological pictures are courtesy of Thomas M Wheeler, MD
b
25 Focal Therapy forAnterior Cancers
285
It should be noted that any imaging modality may underestimate tumor size, as pathologic spec­imens reveal extensions from the tumor core to the periphery (Fig. 25.4b), which are challenging to detect by using current imaging modalities. Schaer etal. developed and validated a micro- ultrasound risk score to predict clinically signicant APC and reported median sensitivity and specicity of 72% and 68%, respectively [21]. Further research is needed to compare the effectiveness of this newer modality with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI). However, integrating imaging with articial intel­ligence may enhance detection rates, a topic that is explored toward the end of this chapter.
Rationale andPatient Selection
The rising utilization of mpMRI has led to a higher detection rate of APC at a smaller size and stage. Such solitary, non-apical nodule in the anterior portion of the prostate has sufcient dis­tance from neurovascular bundles, making it an ideal target for focal treatment with minimal sex­ual and urinary adverse effects. Outside of these highly selective cases, selecting patients for APC focal therapy requires several considerations:
First and foremost, the location of the tumor is
critical. The proximity of apical APCs to the
urethral sphincter poses challenges for ther-
mal ablation. This is true even for robotic radi-
cal prostatectomy, where the risk of
incontinence is higher with apical lesions
close to the sphincter [7]. Although further
studies are required to suggest a modality for
apical APC, irreversible electroporation could
be suggested if treatment margins are dened
at least 9mm from the region of interest. Second, periurethral tumor is a relative contrain-
dication for thermal ablation. Moreover, api-
cal tumors are more commonly periurethral,
which heightens the risk of treatment failure. Third, management of APCs that are closer than
5–10 mm to the bladder neck requires extra
caution as the rates of irritative or obstructive
lower urinary tract symptoms are higher.
Alternatively, it is of utmost importance to
consider more frequent follow-ups in patients
with APCs close to the bladder neck and apex.
This is because a surgeon’s careful approach to avoid complications could lead to a higher rate of in-eld recurrence [22].
Finally, for treating anterior tumors, it is ideal to
opt for modalities that utilize a transperineal approach rather than transrectal, such as High­Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). While novel HIFU machines might access higher areas of the prostate, there is always a risk of energy dispersion as the ultrasound waves travel through the tissue. However, the trans­perineal approach offers direct targeting and treatment of APCs, reducing such risks.
Modalities forFocal Management ofAPCs
Cryotherapy
Image-guided cryoablation is an effective treat­ment option for APCs because its transperineal approach enables precise, direct targeting of the cancerous cells. Furthermore, APCs are located away from nerve bundles which gives the chance of maximum preservation of the erectile func­tion. While the nuances of the techniques are pre­sented elsewhere in this textbook, the ability to choose/adjust the ice-ball size is substantially important for anterior tumors and empowers the urologist to choose the shape of ablation and to avoid neighboring structures (i.e., urethra, sym­physis pubis, etc.). Another important technical point in the anterior apical lesion is the placement of a temperature probe at the anterior apex to monitor for possible thermal damage to the sphincter. In a proof-of-concept study, Sze and colleagues presented 17 men with anterior GG2 or less lesions treated with cryotherapy. All post­ablation biopsies of region-of-interest (ROI) were negative [23], remained continent, and experienced no changes in their sexual function. Shah etal. studied 122 men (65.5% had APC, and
19.7% had both APC and posterior lesion) with high- and intermediate-risk PCa and found a 3-year failure-free survival (FFS) rate of 90.5%. After stratication based on NCCN risk groups, FFS rates were 84.7% in the high-risk group and
93.3% for the intermediate-risk group [24]. At the last follow-up, none of the 69 patients experi-