You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction/Andrology: Evaluation1 Apr 20111315 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PENILE LENGTH AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: A LONG-TERM PROSPECTIVE STUDY Juliana Vasconcelos, Fabio Nascimento, Rui Figueiredo, Eloisio Alexsandro da Silva, and Ronaldo Damiao Juliana VasconcelosJuliana Vasconcelos Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author , Fabio NascimentoFabio Nascimento Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author , Rui FigueiredoRui Figueiredo Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author , Eloisio Alexsandro da SilvaEloisio Alexsandro da Silva Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author , and Ronaldo DamiaoRonaldo Damiao Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2011.02.1135AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Despite penile shortening after radical prostatectomy (RP) has been found in short-term studies, this is not enough to characterize its natural history and, thus, weak evidence supports the use of any kind of treatment. We aimed to evaluate penile length changes after RP by performing consecutive penile measurements in long term follow-up. METHODS We evaluated prospectively the penis length of 105 consecutive patients submitted to RP due to localized prostate cancer. Participation in penile rehabilitation program was considered exclusion criteria. Stretched penis measurements were taken before RP and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months postoperatively. The erection function domain of the international index of erectile function questionnaire was used to evaluate the erectile function. RESULTS Stretched penis length after RP was significantly decreased at 3 months and this difference maintained at 12 months (overall mean −1 cm). The difference among penile lengths reduced slightly after 24 months (−0.9 cm) and after 36 months (−0.7 cm). After 48 months (−0.1 cm) and 60 months (+0.3 cm) differences among penile lengths were not significant (p= 0.465 and p=0.346, respectively). The recovery of erectile function was the only independent predictor of the penile length at 5-years follow-up (Figure). CONCLUSIONS Nearly 1 cm penile shortening after RP is expected up to 12 months. However, penile length tends to restore slightly and after 48 months it is restored at baseline values. The recovery of the erectile function is the main predictor of the penile length at long term follow-up. © 2011 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 185Issue 4SApril 2011Page: e526 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2011 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Juliana Vasconcelos Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author Fabio Nascimento Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author Rui Figueiredo Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author Eloisio Alexsandro da Silva Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author Ronaldo Damiao Rio de Janeiro, Brazil More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...