Analysing preliminary results of percutaneous radiotherapy on 79 patients with localized prostatic carcinoma, the uncorrected five-year survival rate of all patients was 67.3%, that in stage O, A and B 89.5% and that of patients in stage C and D 64.5%. The tumour-free five-year survival rate of all patients was 50.2%. In three patients there was a recurrence (4%), in four others severe side-effects (5%). There were no fatal complications. Radiotherapy can be considered to be an alternative to operation even when the tumour is limited to the prostate.