Comparison of Penile Size and Erectile Function after High-intensity Focused Ultrasound and Targeted Cryoablation for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Pilot Study

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) represents a common quality-of-life issue of any treatment used for prostate cancer, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and targeted cryoablation of the prostate (TCAP). There is a paucity of comparative studies regarding the difference in the erectile function and penile size of patients undergoing HIFU or TCAP. The aim of this study is to compare the erectile function and penile size of patients undergoing HIFU or TCAP. Patients with a preoperative erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) score ≥ 26 were prospectively included. All patients were preoperatively evaluated by IIEF-EF and penile color Doppler ultrasound. Penile length and circumference were measured in flaccidity and at maximum erection. At 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 months after surgery, patients were assessed with the same protocol. IIEF-EF score, penile color Doppler ultrasound, penile length, and circumference at different time points. There were 55 patients in the HIFU group and 47 in the TCAP group. At each time point, there were significant differences in mean IIEF-EF scores and penile color Doppler results between the two groups. At 36 months, TCAP patients experienced lower erectile function recovery rate compared with HIFU patients (TCAP=46.8%; HIFU=65.5%; P=0.021). No significant decreases in penile length and circumference were found in the two groups (all P values ≥ 0.05). Our data demonstrate TCAP caused significantly decreased erectile function than HIFU. We found no change in penile size after HIFU or TCAP. The option of HIFU may be more attractive to the patient who wants to avoid ED afterward, to maintain their quality of life.