Perineal Prostatectomy

Perineal prostatectomy is  the surgery to remove the prostate through an incision made between the scrotum (perineum) and the anus. 

Several incisions are also sometimes made in the lower abdomen to remove lymph nodes that are affected.

Radical Perineal Prostatectomy (RPP)

Surgery to remove all of the prostate through an incision between the scrotum and the anus. Nearby lymph nodes are sometimes removed through a separate incision in the wall of the abdomen.

Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (RRP)

Surgery to remove all of the prostate and nearby lymph nodes through an incision in the wall of the abdomen.

Radical perineal prostatectomy is less commonly used than  radical retropubic prostatectomy, primarily because lymph nodes cannot be sampled through the same incision in the perineal approach.

When the cancer is small and confined to the prostate, radical perineal prostatectomy achieves the same rate of cure as the retropubic approach but less blood is lost and recovery is faster.

 Lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are components of the lymphatic system. They are sometimes informally called lymph glands but, as they do not secrete substances, such terminology is not accurate. They are found throughout the body.

Lymph nodes are filters or traps for foreign particles and contain white blood cells.