Prostatectomy

An operation to remove part or all of the prostate gland. It is performed to treat enlargement of the gland (see prostate, enlarged), cancer of the prostate (see prostate, cancer of), or prostatitis. The most common method is trans-urethral prostatectomy, performed during cystoscopy. If the prostate gland is very enlarged, retropubic prostatectomy may be performed. An incision exposes the prostate and the tissue is removed. Prostatectomy may affect potency or sexual sensation, though this is not common. The operation usually causes sterility.