DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed organ-confined prostate cancer (clinical stage T1 or T2 only)
• Pretreatment prostate weight less than 40 g
• Gleason score no greater than 7
• PSA no greater than 10 ng/mL
• No significant intravesical median lobe (greater than 2 cm) on ultrasound
• Able to visualize prostate gland adequately on transrectal ultrasound imaging
• No prostate calcification greater than 5 mm
• No metastases by bone scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 40 to 80

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• No bleeding disorder as determined by abnormal PT and PTT

Renal:

• No active urinary tract infection
• No history of urinary bladder neck contracture

Other:

• No prior allergy to latex
• No Anesthesia Surgical Assignment category IV or greater
• No interest in future fertility
• No history of inflammatory bowel disease
• No other concurrent major debilitating illness
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy except skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior biologic therapy for prostate cancer

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 3 months since prior hormonal therapy (including finasteride) for prostate cancer

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for prostate cancer

Surgery:

• No prior transurethral resection of prostate
• No prior urethral stent
• No prior major rectal surgery

Other:

• No prior cryotherapy for prostate cancer
• No prior thermotherapy
• No other prior therapy for prostate cancer
• No concurrent warfarin or other anticoagulant