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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
For men who develop urethral scarring after prostate cancer radiation, one surgical fix holds up far better than another. A new study found anastomotic urethroplasty had a stricture recurrence rate of just 6.8% at 10 years, compared to 20% for buccal mucosa graft onlay — making it the stronger long-term option when technically feasible.
For men who develop urethral scarring after prostate cancer radiation, the choice of surgical repair matters — a lot. A retrospective study of 212 patients found that anastomotic urethroplasty significantly outperformed buccal mucosa graft (BMG) onlay in preventing stricture recurrence in those with radiation-induced bulbomembranous urethral stenosis (BMUS).
The study, published in The Journal of Urology, drew on data from two institutions spanning 2001 to 2024. Patients who underwent anastomotic urethroplasty (163 patients) fared considerably better over time than those who received BMG onlay (49 patients), with no meaningful differences in complication rates, patient satisfaction, or side effects like erectile dysfunction or incontinence.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Radiation-induced urethral strictures are a challenging complication of prostate cancer treatment, and choosing the right repair strategy has lasting consequences for patients. These findings suggest anastomotic urethroplasty should be the preferred approach when feasible, though BMG onlay remains a valid option for longer or more complex strictures — just with closer follow-up.
