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radical perineal prostatectomy

(RA-dih-kul PAYR-ih-NEE-ul PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee)
Surgery to remove the entire prostate and some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles (a gland that helps make semen). During a radical perineal prostatectomy, an incision (cut) is made in the perineum (the area between the scrotum and anus). Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed through a separate incision in the wall of the abdomen.
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Two panel drawing showing two ways of doing a radical prostatectomy; in the first panel, dotted line shows where incision is made through the wall of the abdomen for a retropubic prostatectomy; in the second panel, dotted line shows where incision is made in area between the scrotum and the anus for a perineal prostatectomy.Enlarge this image in new window
Two types of radical prostatectomy. In a retropubic prostatectomy, the prostate is removed through an incision in the wall of the abdomen. In a perineal prostatectomy, the prostate is removed through an incision in the area between the scrotum and the anus.
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