Incidental prostate cancer diagnosis is common after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of incidental prostate cancer detection (iPCa) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). The published rate of iPCa after HoLEP is widely variable from 7-23% and we aim to define preoperative risk factors for iPCa to inform risk adjusted preoperative evaluation for prostate cancer.

METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing HoLEP from 2018-2022 were included and comprehensive clinical data abstracted from a prospectively maintained database. iPCa was defined as a diagnosis of PCa on pathologic examination of the HoLEP specimen. Patients with and without iPCa were compared with respect to pre-operative clinical variables.

RESULTS: Of 913 HoLEP patients, 183 (20%) were diagnosed with iPCa. Most patients (95%) had a pre-operative PSA, 9% had negative MRI, and 30% had negative prostate biopsy. On multivariable analysis, PSA density (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03, 1.10; p<0.001), preoperative biopsy status (OR 0.47, CI 0.30, 0.75; p=0.002), and current 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) use (OR 0.64, CI 0.43, 0.97; p=0.034), were associated with iPCa diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: In a significantly pre-screened population, we identified a 20% rate of iPCa after HoLEP. Preoperative characteristics associated with iPCa diagnosis included increasing age, increasing PSA density, and current 5-ARI use. However, these factors alone may be of limited clinical utility to prospectively identify patients at high risk of iPCa diagnosis. We suggest and advocate for development of a standardized, risk adapted evaluation focused on expanded use of imaging and selective biopsy to prioritize identification of clinically significant prostate cancers prior to non-oncologic surgery.