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The study did not look at staging and scoring of the tumor, meaning that some of the differences seen might be due to differences in disease rather than in surgical quality, Sawczuk said.

On the other hand, outcomes between the two procedures were more equal when MIRP was performed by surgeons with greater experience. But studies have shown that surgeons may need to perform as many as 150 procedures to duplicate the results of open surgery and as many as 300 to feel comfortable, Hu said.

"This is relatively new, and patients are all excited about it and, as a result of increased demand, the suppliers or surgeons want to rush and give patients what they want, but this is definitely something where a lot of practice is needed," Hu said.

More information

Visit the National Cancer Institute for more on treatment for prostate cancer.

SOURCES: Jim Hu, M.D., director, minimally invasive urologic oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Ronald D. Ennis, M.D., director, radiation oncology, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, New York City; Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., chief, urologic oncology, Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, N.J.; May 10, 2008, Journal of Clinical Oncology