Can anyone tell me how many centers in the United States currently
perform laparoscopic radical prostatectomies for the treatment of
prostate cancer? As I understand it, this is a relatively new
technique and only specialized centers perform it. I would like to get
an estimate of how many centers are actually performing the procedure.
The more recent year the better, but anything 2002 or later will be
fine.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 03 Feb 2006 17:42 PST

Dear lauren0125,

I found only two numbers:

- In September 2002, an article ("Bryn Mawr Hospital Surgeon Combines
Advanced Minimally Invasive Procedure And Robotic Technology to Treat
Prostate Cancer") mentions the number of "only about 20 medical
centers in the country" performing LRP:
http://www.brynmawrurology.com/Mcginisonline.html

- In winter 2002, a publication of Dartmouth Medical School mentions
"only about 30 medical centers in the country" performing LRP:
http://dartmed.dartmouth.edu/winter02/html/vs_encouraging.shtml

I could not find more up-to-date numbers mentioned anywhere. Is this
useful for you? Please let me know.

Regards,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by lauren0125-ga on 03 Feb 2006 19:17 PST

Dear scriptor,

Thanks for the information! Any additional data on a more recent year
would be extremely helpful to see if the use of this procedure is
growing. However if there is no additional information available, this
will work.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 03 Feb 2006 19:26 PST

Thank you for your response. I will do additional research over the
next hours. Should I not find any valuable additional information, I
will follow your permission and post what I already found as an
answer.

Greetings,
Scriptor

Dear lauren0125,

Unfortunately, my research did not produce more results. Therefore,
all I can provide you are the two sources mentioned above. But I hope
that they will be useful for you:

The Bryn Mawr Urology Group
http://www.brynmawrurology.com/Mcginisonline.html

Dartmouth Medicine Magazine: Encouraging data about a new option for prostatectomy
http://dartmed.dartmouth.edu/winter02/html/vs_encouraging.shtml

Best regards,
Scriptor

The information you were able to find is a very helpful start to my
research. Thank you!

There is a very useful 2005 article that includes detailed discussion
of the techniques including the history and development of the
operation, mentioning several of the practitioners in the US and
Europe including citations.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3723.htm