Transurethral resection of the prostate immediately after high‐intensity focused ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer

Objectives: To evaluate the long‐term outcomes of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) immediately after high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for prostate cancer (CaP). Methods: The present retrospective study included 65 CaP patients who underwent HIFU alone and 64 patients who underwent TURP immediately after HIFU. HIFU treatment was carried out using a Sonablate‐500 HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the occurrence of urinary complications, such as urethral stricture during follow‐up, were statistically compared between groups. Results: Clinical stage tended to be lower for the HIFU + TURP group (P = 0.0311), but none of the preoperative parameters differed significantly between groups. Both catheterization time (P < 0.0001) and post‐treatment IPSS (P < 0.0001) at 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment differed significantly between groups. Urethral strictures were noted in 16 (24.6%) of the HIFU‐only patients and seven (10.9%) of the HIFU + TURP patients. Bladder neck contracture was noted in 11 (68.8%) of the patients with urethral stricture in the HIFU‐only group, but in just two (28.6%) of the patients with urethral stricture in the HIFU + TURP group. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that TURP resection volume (P = 0.0118) was a strong factor for the prevention of urethral stricture. Conclusions: Our results suggest that combining HIFU with an immediately following TURP improves post‐treatment urinary status without causing additional morbidity.