Impact of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Anatomic Features on Urinary Continence Recovery after Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To evaluate the impact of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging anatomic features on urinary continence recovery after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively analyzed 150 consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent LRP between July 2015 and June 2018 in our institution. Patients reporting freedom from using safety pad (0 pads/day) were defined as urinary continent. We evaluated the association of urinary continence recovery after LRP and the perioperative variables, including age, prostatic volume (PV), intravesical prostatic protrusion length (IPPL), membranous urethral length (MUL), and neurovascular bundle (NVB) sparing status. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare urinary continence rates between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors for urinary continence recovery. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 60.6% (91/150), 83.3% (125/150), and 96.0% (144/150) of the patients experienced urinary continence recovery at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. There was significant difference in PV, IPPL, MUL, and NVB sparing between groups stratified by urinary continence status at 3, 6, and 12 months. Kaplan-Meier curves of urinary continence rates showed significant differences between groups stratified by PV (&#x3c;50 mL vs. ≥50 mL,<i> p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), IPPL (&#x3c;5 mm vs. ≥5 mm,<i> p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), MUL (≥15 mm vs. &#x3c;15 mm,<i> p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), and NVB sparing status (yes vs. no, <i>p</i> = 0.003), respectively. On univariate analysis, PV, IPPL, MUL, and NVB sparing were significantly associated with urinary continence recovery (all, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only IPPL (HR = 0.94, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and MUL (HR = 1.10, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) were independent predictors for urinary continence recovery. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients with larger IPPL and shorter MUL have higher chances of delayed recovery of urinary continence after LRP. IPPL and MUL were reliable morphometric parameters for predicting urinary continence.