[Anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Indications, technique, advantages and disadvantages].

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for lumbar interbody fusion from L2 to the sacrum has been an established technique for decades.

Objectives: The advantages and disadvantages of ALIF compared to posterior interbody fusion techniques are discussed. The operative technique is described in detail.

Prognosis of stage pT0 after prolonged neoadjuvant endocrine therapy of prostate cancer: a matched-pair analysis.

Objectives: Stage pT0 following prolonged neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (PPNET) of prostate cancer is of great clinical interest, because this finding suggests maximum tumor damage. Therefore pT0 patients are expected to have an extremely favorable PSA progression rate. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the PSA progression rate of pT0 patients after PPNET is lower than that of non-pT0 patients after PPNET.

Follow-up of nondetectable prostate carcinoma (pT0) after prolonged PSA-monitored neoadjuvant hormonal therapy followed by radical prostatectomy.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that in patients with Stage pT0 after prolonged prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-monitored neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, biochemical relapse is extremely rare and derives from systemic tumor recurrence.

Methods: A total of 227 patients with Stage cT1-3 carcinoma underwent PSA-monitored prolonged neoadjuvant endocrine treatment followed by radical prostatectomy. In all pT0 patients, PSA follow-up data were obtained.

Estimation of total PSA with a supersensitive PSA-assay during neo-adjuvant-chemotherapy of prostate cancer before radical resection of prostate.

43 patients with untreated and clinically localised prostate carcinoma (cT1-3NoM0) were submitted to neo-adjuvant complete androgen deprivation treatment and radical prostatectomy. Hormonal treatment was given until PSA (supersensitive Immulite 3rd generation assay) reached a value of < 0.1 ng/ml or the nadir value.