Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy Specimens Research Articles

Extended prostate needle biopsy improves concordance of Gleason grading between prostate needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy.

We examined the concordance of Gleason scores in prostate needle biopsy specimens and the corresponding radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens in a cohort of patients grouped according to the number of cores obtained during diagnostic needle biopsy. We reviewed clinical and pathological data on a cohort of 466 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer by needle biopsies who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between January 1, 1990 and July 31, 2001. Two study groups were identified, including 126 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by extended needle biopsies (10 or more cores) and 340 diagnosed with cancer by nonextended needle biopsies (9 or fewer cores). Mean age was 60 years and median prostate specific antigen was 5.8 ng./ml. The median number of cores in the extended and nonextended biopsy groups was 12 and 6, respectively. The concordance of Gleason score in the needle biopsy and prostatectomy specimens was compared and correlated with the number of cores on needle biopsy. In the whole cohort 311 patients (67%) had identical Gleason scores on the needle biopsy and prostatectomy specimens, while 53 (11%) were over graded and 102 (22%) were under graded on needle biopsy. In patients who underwent extended needle biopsies the accuracy rate for Gleason scoring was 76% with 10% over and 14% under graded. The highest accuracy rates were in patients with 13, 14 and 16 cores (89%, 87% and 100%, respectively). No patients in the extended needle biopsy group had a discrepancy of more than 2 Gleason units in grade in the biopsy and surgical specimens. In those who underwent nonextended needle biopsies the accuracy rate for Gleason scoring was 63% with 12% over and 25% under graded. There were significantly different rates of accuracy (p = 0.008) and under grading (p = 0.01) in the 2 needle biopsy groups. Patients with a needle biopsy Gleason score of less than 7 had significantly higher concordance with the prostatectomy Gleason score when extended biopsies were done compared with nonextended biopsies (p = 0.001). Prostate cancer grading by extended needle biopsy is a better predictor of the final Gleason score than nonextended needle biopsy, as determined by radical prostatectomy histological evaluation. Therefore, extended prostate needle biopsy provides better guidance to determine the appropriate treatment in patients with prostate cancer.

Is it necessary to separate clinical stage T1c from T2 prostate adenocarcinoma?

To test the hypothesis that prostate cancer patients with clinical stage cT1c and cT2 have similar outcomes and clinicopathological features, and should be grouped together. From a series of men with prostate cancer who had a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP), we assessed those with cT1c (223) and cT2 (65) adenocarcinoma. All RP specimens were totally embedded and whole-mounted; tumour volume was measured using the grid method. Clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed. Patients with cT2 tumours were more likely to have a higher Gleason score (P = 0.04) and final pathological stage (P = 0.05) than those with cT1c tumours. There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.92), preoperative PSA level (P = 0.17), prostate weight (P = 0.34), tumour volume (P = 0.16), surgical margin status (P = 0.86), multifocality (P = 0.92), the presence of perineural invasion (P = 0.09), or high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.99) between patients with clinical stage cT1c and those with cT2 tumours. There was no difference in PSA recurrence between patients with clinical stage T1c and those with cT2 tumours (P = 0.27). Patients with clinical stage cT2 tumours have a higher Gleason score and advanced pathological stage than tumours detected because of a high serum PSA level (cT1c). These results suggest that clinical stage cT1c tumours should be separated from clinical stage cT2 disease, but the PSA recurrence rate for both tumour stages is similar, indicating a need for further evaluation and refinement of the current clinical staging system.

The utility of Ki-67 expression in the differential diagnosis of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and ductal adenocarcinoma

Cribriform and/or papillary prostatic lesions observed on limited tissue, such as needle biopsy, can pose diagnostic dilemmas. One such area of difficulty is the distinction between papillary and/or cribriform prostatic high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN) and ductal adenocarcinoma. Over 48 months, we identified 17 cases of ductal adenocarcinoma and 17 cases of HG-PIN from radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens. The HG-PIN lesions were in all cases associated with an acinar prostatic adenocarcinoma component. For each case, we evaluated the proliferative activity, assessed by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. The majority (82%) of ductal adenocarcinomas were composed of mixed papillary and cribriform patterns, with the remaining demonstrating pure papillary or cribriform patterns. The HG-PIN lesions showed a papillary, cribriform, or mixed papillary/cribriform architecture. The proliferative activity, defined as Ki-67 labeling index, was statistically higher in ductal adenocarcinoma (mean 33%, range 21%-66%) as compared with HG-PIN (mean 6%, range 2%-15%), with no overlap in the Ki-67 indices (P = 0001). A combination of histological features and measurements of cellular proliferation may be helpful to distinguish HG-PIN from ductal adenocarcinoma in limited prostatic tissue samples.

TRANSITION ZONE CANCERS UNDERMINE THE PREDICTIVE ACCURACY OF PARTIN TABLE STAGE PREDICTIONS

The Partin tables represent the most widely used predictor of pathological stage in men with localized prostate cancer (PCa). The accuracy and performance of the tables have been tested across different populations. However, to our knowledge the potential limitations that may stem from differences between transition zone (TZ) and peripheral zone (PZ) prostate cancers has not been explored. We tested the predictive accuracy and performance of the Partin tables according to TZ vs PZ tumor predominance. Preoperative serum prostate specific antigen, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason sum data on 1,990 patients treated with radical retropubic prostatectomy were used to define the 2001 Partin probabilities of organ confinement and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI). Data on 1,320 patients who underwent staging pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy were used to define the probabilities of lymph node invasion (LNI) and organ confined disease (OC). ROC area under the curve was used to assess the predictive accuracy of the 2001 Partin tables relative to observed extracapsular extension (ECE), SVI, LNI and OC. Performance characteristics for each prediction were explored graphically with local regression, nonparametric smoothing plots. Results were compared between 222 TZ cancers and 1,768 PZ cancers. The 1,990 radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens demonstrated ECE in 689 cases (34.6%) (TZ in 58 or 27.1% and PZ in 631 or 35.8%) and SVI in 224 (TZ in 13 or 6.1% and PZ in 211 or 11.9%). The 1,320 lymphadenectomy specimens demonstrated LNI in 56 cases (TZ in 2 or 0.9% and PZ in 54 or 4.6%). OC was found in 784 cases (59.4%) (TZ in 95 or 69.9% and PZ in 689 or 58.2%). Predictive accuracy was for ECE 76.4% (TZ 69.0% and PZ 77.2%), 78.0% for SVI (TZ 73.5% and PZ 78.3%), 78.6% for LNI (TZ 44.5% and PZ 79.9%) and 79.4% for OC (TZ 73.8% and PZ 80.0%). The biological tumor characteristics of TZ PCa differ from those of PZ PCa. These differences appear to undermine the accuracy of pathological stage predictions.

Perineural invasion in prostate cancer biopsies is not associated with higher rates of positive surgical margins

High rates of extracapsular tumor extension have been reported with biopsy perineural invasion (PNI), leading some to advocate routine resection of the ipsilateral neurovascular bundle (NVB) with radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) to assure negative surgical margins. The contemporary rates of extracapsular tumor extension (ECE) and margin status associated with biopsy PNI were investigated. The prostate needle biopsies, RRP specimens, and operative reports of 452 consecutive patients undergoing RRP by a single surgeon were reviewed to determine the presence of PNI invasion, presence of ECE, margin status, and preservation of NVB. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they underwent preoperative hormonal ablation or if their original biopsy was not reviewed by the pathologists at our institution. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the effect of PNI on extracapsular extension, the likelihood of performing a bilateral nerve-sparing technique, and the result of a positive surgical margin. In the 402 evaluable cases, based on multivariate models PNI showed only a marginal association with positive surgical margin (+SM) (P = 0.10) and bilateral nerve-sparing (B-NS) (P = 0.07), but was significantly associated with organ confinement (P = 0.03). The odds ratio (OR) of PNI for +SM, although not statistically significant, was 0.36. Although showing a higher level of statistical significance, PNI for OC had an odds ratio of 0.50. Similarly, the odds ratio was 0.54 for B-NS. Although biopsy PNI alone was associated with a higher probability of ECE, it is not predictive of bilateral nerve-sparing technique or a positive surgical margin in an individual patient.

ACCURACY OF PROSTATE WEIGHT ESTIMATION BY DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION VERSUS TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY

The ability to estimate prostate weight is useful. Two commonly used methods for estimating prostate weight are digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). We evaluated the relative accuracy of these weight estimates by comparing them to prostate weight following radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). Between 1989 and 2001 more than 36,000 community men participated in a large prostate cancer screening study. Of these men 2,238 underwent RRP. In this subset we examined the correlation between documented preoperative DRE and TRUS estimates of prostate weight with actual gland weight. DRE estimates of prostate weight by multiple examiners correlated poorly with RRP specimen weight (r = 0.2743). However, TRUS estimates correlated moderately well (r = 0.6493). TRUS provided more accurate estimates of prostate weight for smaller glands, although it generally underestimated gland weight compared to the weight of the surgical specimen. In a large, community based prostate cancer screening study prostate weight estimated by DRE was shown to correlate poorly with actual prostate weight. Compared with DRE, TRUS provides a better estimate of prostate weight. In addition, TRUS measurements were more accurate in smaller prostate glands.

PERINEURAL INVASION IN RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS: LACK OF PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE

The prognostic significance of perineural invasion in radical prostatectomy specimens is uncertain. We evaluated the relationship between perineural invasion and other pathological characteristics in whole mount radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens as well as prostate specific antigen (PSA) recurrence postoperatively. Between 1999 and 2003, 364 consecutive patients were treated with radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy specimens were processed by the whole mount technique. The relationship of perineural invasion and various clinicopathological characteristics to PSA recurrence was analyzed. Perineural invasion was present in 287 specimens (79%). Specimens with perineural invasion were associated with smaller prostate weight (p <0.0001), greater pathological stage (p <0.0001), larger tumor volume (p <0.0001), higher Gleason score (p <0.0001), a higher incidence of extraprostatic extension (p <0.0001) and seminal vesicle invasion (p = 0.02), and a higher positive surgical margin rate (p = 0.01). Perineural invasion did not correlate with preoperative PSA (p = 0.96), lymph node metastases (p = 0.35), multifocality (p = 0.21), high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (p = 0.12) or PSA recurrence (p = 0.24). While perineural invasion in the radical prostatectomy specimen significantly correlated with multiple adverse pathological factors, it did not predict which patients will have early PSA recurrence following radical prostatectomy.

Anatomical features of periprostatic tissue and its surroundings: a histological analysis of 79 radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens.

A proper understanding of prostatic and periprostatic anatomy is essential for surgical procedures and pathological diagnosis; however, the detailed features have not been commonly investigated and completely understood. Seventy-nine non-nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy specimens were microscopically investigated for Denonvilliers' fascia, lateral pelvic fascia, prostatic capsule, anterior fibromuscular stroma and the neurovascular bundle. At the lateral aspect, the lateral pelvic fascia and the prostatic capsule were separated by adipose tissue in 41 cases (52%), whereas they adhered in 38 cases (48%). In only 41 cases (52%), the neurovascular bundle existed locally at the postero-lateral region with definite 'bundle' formations. Denonvilliers' fascia and the prostatic capsule adhered tightly at the center of the posterior aspect in 77 cases (97%). A smooth transition from the prostatic capsule to the anterior fibromuscular stroma was observed in all cases. In 70 cases (89%), no prostatic capsule was independently recognized at the anterior aspect. In the remaining 9 cases (11%), the capsule was recognizable as distinct from the anterior fibromuscular stroma. In 67 cases (85%), the lateral pelvic fascia connected and fused with the anterior fibromuscular stroma, and covered the outermost regions of the lateral and anterior surfaces. All the periprostatic structures are closely related and influence each other. The results support the rationale of anatomical radical prostatectomy, and should be taken into consideration for surgical procedures and pathological diagnosis.

BIOCHEMICAL FAILURE IN MEN FOLLOWING RADICAL RETROPUBIC PROSTATECTOMY: IMPACT OF SURGICAL MARGIN STATUS AND LOCATION

The significance of isolated positive apical surgical margins in radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) specimens remains controversial. We examine the effects of margin status and location on biochemical recurrence rates in patients undergoing RRP. Of 800 patients with RRP we identified 498 without pathological evidence of lymph node, seminal vesicle or adjacent organ involvement and with at least 6 months of followup. Patients were subdivided into apex only positive (AM+), nonapical isolated positive (OM+), multiple positive (MM+) and negative (SM-) surgical margins. The rate and interval to biochemical disease recurrence were determined in each group. Univariate and multivariate analysis as well as Kaplan-Meier curves were used to test differences among these groups. Of the 498 men who met our inclusion criteria 400 were SM-, 28 were AM+, 57 were OM+ and 13 were MM+ at a median followup of 49, 59, 64 and 83 months, respectively. Biochemical recurrence rates for SM-, AM+, OM+ and MM+ were 9.3%, 21.4%, 26.3% and 30.8%, respectively. Median time to biochemical failure in the SM-, AM+, OM+ and MM+ groups was 34, 19.5, 46.0 and 6.8 months, respectively. Biochemical recurrence was not statistically different among the AM+, OM+ and MM+ groups. On univariate analysis AM+, OM+ and MM+ were significant predictors of recurrence (p < 0.05, < 0.005, and <0.05, respectively). On multivariate models only pretreatment prostate specific antigen and OM+ were independent predictors of biochemical recurrence. A positive surgical margin conveys increased risk for biochemical recurrence. Patients with AM+ experienced biochemical recurrence more frequently and rapidly than those with SM-. AM+ conveys a similar risk of recurrence compared with OM+ and MM+. Apical margin status did not independently predict biochemical recurrence.

Outcome of Patients After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: A Comparison of Prostate Cancer Diagnosed Using Extended Needle Biopsy Technique vs. Non-extended Needle Biopsy Technique

Objective: We evaluated the differences in pathologic findings and outcomes in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) for localized prostate cancer diagnosed by either extended or non-extended prostate needle biopsy techniques. Patients and Methods: Two hundred and seventy eight men with the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer using needle biopsies who underwent RRP were evaluated. Two study groups were identified: the first consisted of 123 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by the use of extended needle biopsies (10 or more biopsy cores), and the second group consisted of 155 patients diagnosed with cancer by non-extended needle biopsies (9 or less biopsy cores). Median time of follow-up was 45 and 50 months, respectively. Biopsy and RRP specimen characteristics and outcome were compared between the two groups. Results: Patients in the extended biopsy group had a median of 12 biopsy cores Interquartile range (IQR, 10–13; range, 10–16) with a mean of 2.7 cores positive for can...

THE RISK OF FINDING FOCAL CANCER (LESS THAN 3 MM) REMAINS HIGH ON RE-BIOPSY OF PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENTLY INCREASED PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN BUT THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IS QUESTIONABLE

We evaluated the significance of focal prostate cancer found in sextant biopsies in men participating in a biennial prostate specific antigen (PSA) based screening program. In 1995, 10000 men 50 to 65 years old were randomized to biennial screening with PSA testing. Sextant biopsies were recommended when total PSA was 3 ng/ml or greater at screening rounds 1 and 2, and 2.54 ng/ml or greater at subsequent screening rounds. Focal cancer was defined as total a core cancer length of less than 3 mm in the biopsy specimen. Low volume cancer was defined as a total tumor volume of less than 0.5 cm in the radical retropubic prostatectomy specimen. The number of men who underwent biopsy and the number of cancers detected in the 5 possible sets of biopsies were 1725 and 402, 706 and 124, 307 and 36, 103 and 9, and 13 and 0, respectively. The risk of detecting focal cancer was 7.9%, 10.2%, 7.5%, 5.8% and 0%, respectively, but the relative ratio (focal-to-all cancers) increased 34%, 58%, 64%, 67% and, not applicable, respectively. In men with a total core cancer length of less than 10 mm there was no correlation between core cancer length and total tumor volume, as measured in the prostatectomy specimen. Two-thirds of men with a total core cancer length of less than 3 mm had a tumor volume of greater than 0.5 cm, while the risk of low volume cancer was less than 5% only in men with a total core cancer length of greater than 10 mm. In a repeat PSA based screening program sextant biopsies are of little or no value for predicting tumor volume.

Important preoperative prognostic factors for extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node involvement in cases with radical retropubic prostatectomy

Initial diagnostic evaluation may provide information about the extent of disease after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, local disease extension identified by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), total number of positive biopsies and percentage of positive cores for cancer, as well as TRUS Biopsy Gleason score in determining the extent of disease in radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens. A retrospective analysis was performed on 171 patients who underwent RRP from March 1993 to February 2003 for organ confined prostate cancer and whose follow-up data was accessible. The correlation of preoperative serum PSA level, local disease extension in TRUS, the total number of positive sextant biopsies and the percent of cores positive for cancer and Gleason score at TRUS biopsy specimen with the extent of disease at final pathology (Extra-capsular extension (ECE), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), lymph node involvement (LNI) and surgical margin (SM) status on RRP specimens) were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 65 years. The mean preoperative serum PSA level of all patients was 11.6+/-1.2 (median 8.6) ng/ml. Histopathological evaluation of RRP specimens revealed 60 (35%) patients with ECE, 38 (22.2%) with SVI, 7 (0.04%) with LNI, and 58 (33.9%) had positive SM. Comparing the preoperative TRUS findings and postoperative evaluation of RRP specimens, the sensitivity of TRUS in predicting the ECE was 11.8% and specificity was 96%. Sensitivity of TRUS in predicting SVI was 9.8% and its specificity was 99%. With univariate analysis (sample t-test), Gleason score, percent of cores positive for cancer, and DRE were found to be predictive factors for extra-prostatic disease in RRP specimens. But with multivariate analysis (logistic regression test) Gleason score appears to be the most important and independent predictive factor for extra-prostatic disease in RRP specimens. Serum PSA levels and percentages of cores positive for cancer were also significant predictors of non organ-confined disease found at final pathology. Gleason score is the most important and independent predictive factor for extra-prostatic disease. Serum PSA levels and percentages of cores positive for cancer are the other important but non-independent predictive factors.

Pathologic comparison of laparoscopic versus open radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens

ObjectivesTo compare the pathologic evaluation of 60 sequential laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) specimens with 60 sequential and 60 stage and grade-matched open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) cohort specimens. MethodsOf 68 patients undergoing LRP, 3 requiring open conversion and 5 receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy were excluded, leaving 60 for analysis. Among 72 sequential open RRP specimens, 60 from patients not receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and without nodal metastases were analyzed. A third cohort of 60 RRP specimens matched with the LRP specimens for clinical stage and biopsy grade was also evaluated. ResultsThe specimen weight and preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen level were similar for each cohort, and approximately 75% of patients from each cohort were clinical Stage T1c. Forty-six LRP and matched open RRP (76.7%) and 39 sequential open RRP (65%) specimens were biopsy Gleason sum 6, and the remainder were primarily Gleason sum 7. The pathologic grade and stage distribution were similar for each cohort. Ten LRP (16.9%) and 12 open RRP (20%) specimens from each cohort had positive inked margins (P > 0.10). Positive apex margins were noted in 3, 7, and 7 and multiple positive margin sites in 0, 5, and 6 of the LRP, matched open RRP, and sequential open RRP specimens (P < 0.05), respectively. ConclusionsPathologic evaluation of the LRP and open RRP specimens from patients not receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy demonstrated similar overall positive margin rates, but LRP had a lower rate of apex and multiple-site positive margins.

Author's Reply

The exact role of transition zone (TZ) biopsy in predicting the extent of local pathological stage is yet to be determined. In the present study, two cores of TZ biopsies were added to the systematic sextant biopsy technique and the results were compared with the histopathological data from the radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) specimens. The analysis of clinical and biopsy (peripheral zone [PZ] and TZ) features revealed that although TZ biopsy provided some valuable information (e.g. very good agreement between the positive TZ biopsy side and extraprostatic extension [EPE] side) it was not superior to the percentage of positive PZ cores for the prediction of EPE. This result does not necessarily mean that TZ biopsy is useless for the prediction of EPE. An increased number of cores from the TZ can certainly provide better information. However, there is no agreement on the optimum number of TZ cores that should be taken for this purpose. Kojima et al. took four TZ cores and compared their results with RRP specimens in only 14 of their patients.1 Chang et al. performed systematic sextant biopsy of the TZ. However, this study did not provide information on prostatectomy results.2 Liu et al. took four to 10 TZ cores, depending on the size of the prostate.3 They also did not provide information on pathological stage. It should also be noted that patient tolerance considerably drops when the number of TZ biopsies is increased. Both Kojima et al. and Chang et al. used some form of regional anesthesia to perform prostate biopsies.1,2 Thus, we suggest that the relationship between TZ involvement and prediction of EPE should be further investigated in prostatectomy specimens. In addition, increased number of TZ cores should be taken using regional anesthesia. The technique used by Kojima et al., which utilized intracavitary radiotherapy templates for transperineal prostate biopsy,1 is an interesting approach, but whether it is superior to the standard transrectal technique should be well documented before such an invasive approach can be recommended for routine use.

Extended Prostate Needle Biopsy Improves Concordance Of Gleason Grading Between Prostate Needle Biopsy And Radical Prostatectomy

We examined the concordance of Gleason scores in prostate needle biopsy specimens and the corresponding radical retropubic prostatectomy specimens in a cohort of patients grouped according to the number of cores obtained during diagnostic needle biopsy. We reviewed clinical and pathological data on a cohort of 466 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer by needle biopsies who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between January 1, 1990 and July 31, 2001. Two study groups were identified, including 126 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by extended needle biopsies (10 or more cores) and 340 diagnosed with cancer by nonextended needle biopsies (9 or fewer cores). Mean age was 60 years and median prostate specific antigen was 5.8 ng./ml. The median number of cores in the extended and nonextended biopsy groups was 12 and 6, respectively. The concordance of Gleason score in the needle biopsy and prostatectomy specimens was compared and correlated with the number of cores on needle biopsy. In the whole cohort 311 patients (67%) had identical Gleason scores on the needle biopsy and prostatectomy specimens, while 53 (11%) were over graded and 102 (22%) were under graded on needle biopsy. In patients who underwent extended needle biopsies the accuracy rate for Gleason scoring was 76% with 10% over and 14% under graded. The highest accuracy rates were in patients with 13, 14 and 16 cores (89%, 87% and 100%, respectively). No patients in the extended needle biopsy group had a discrepancy of more than 2 Gleason units in grade in the biopsy and surgical specimens. In those who underwent nonextended needle biopsies the accuracy rate for Gleason scoring was 63% with 12% over and 25% under graded. There were significantly different rates of accuracy (p = 0.008) and under grading (p = 0.01) in the 2 needle biopsy groups. Patients with a needle biopsy Gleason score of less than 7 had significantly higher concordance with the prostatectomy Gleason score when extended biopsies were done compared with nonextended biopsies (p = 0.001). Prostate cancer grading by extended needle biopsy is a better predictor of the final Gleason score than nonextended needle biopsy, as determined by radical prostatectomy histological evaluation. Therefore, extended prostate needle biopsy provides better guidance to determine the appropriate treatment in patients with prostate cancer.

A Centralized Comparison of Radical Perineal and Retropubic Prostatectomy Specimens: Is There a Difference According to the Surgical Approach?

A Centralized Comparison of Radical Perineal and Retropubic Prostatectomy Specimens: Is There a Difference According to the Surgical Approach?

A Centralized Comparison of Radical Perineal and Retropubic Prostatectomy Specimens: Is There a Difference According to the Surgical Approach?

We performed a central review of pathology specimens from radical perineal and radical retropubic prostatectomies performed by a single surgeon. We determined whether differences exist in the 2 approaches in regard to the ability to obtain adequate surgical margins around the tumor and adequate extracapsular tissue around the prostate, and avoid inadvertent capsular incision. The review included whole mount prostates from 60 patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy and 40 who underwent radical perineal prostatectomy. The pathologist (N. S. G.) was blinded to the surgical approach. All prostatectomies were consecutive and performed by the same surgeon (H. J. K.). To ensure consistency of the pathological measurements patients were excluded from analysis if they had undergone preoperative androgen ablation or a nerve sparing procedure, leaving 45 retropubic and 27 perineal prostatectomy specimens for further evaluation. Pertinent clinical parameters were assessed and a detailed pathological analysis of each specimen was performed. In the retropubic and perineal groups 78% of the tumors were organ confined (stage pT2) with extracapsular extension (stage pT3) in the majority of the remaining patients. There was no significant difference in the positive margin rate for the retropubic and perineal procedures (16% and 22%, p = 0.53) or for Gleason 6 and 7 tumors only in the 2 groups (10% and 17%, respectively, p = 0.47). The capsular incision rate was 4% in each group. The distance of the tumor from the posterolateral margins and the amount of extracapsular tissue excised were equivalent in each group. Subgroups of patients with a prostate of less than 50 gm. and containing only low grade, low stage neoplasms were also analyzed. Subgroup analysis showed no difference in any variable. Radical perineal prostatectomy is comparable to radical retropubic prostatectomy for obtaining adequate surgical margins, avoiding inadvertent capsular incisions and excising adequate extracapsular tissue around tumor foci. Additional patient accrual and prostate specific antigen followup would further help validate the similar efficacy of the 2 surgical approaches as treatment for prostate cancer.

Percent Of Cancer in the Biopsy Set Predicts Pathological Findings After Prostatectomy

The ability to use pretreatment variables to identify patients with organ confined prostate cancer continues to challenge physicians. We examined information available preoperatively, including prostate needle biopsy, clinical stage and preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA), and evaluated these data based on pathological variables after radical retropubic prostatectomy. We reviewed results in 135 consecutive patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at a single institution. Needle biopsy information, such as the number of cores, percent of tumor per biopsy set, laterality of positive cores and Gleason sum, were compared with pathological data on the radical retropubic prostatectomy specimen, including pathological stage, Gleason sum and tumor volume. Clinical data, including biopsy information and pathological findings, were compared using univariate and multivariate models. Overall total PSA, percent of tumor in the biopsy and bilateral positive cores directly correlated with tumor volume (p <0.01). Also, increasing PSA, increasing percent of tumor in the biopsy and bilateral positive cores were associated with increased risks of extracapsular extension (p <0.01). From the information readily available from prostate needle biopsy these results suggest that percent of tumor in the biopsy is a useful predictor of pathological stage and tumor volume. Furthermore, including percent of tumor in the biopsy set and bilateral disease with traditional variables such as serum PSA and clinical stage may improve pretreatment tumor staging. This finding adds additional credence to the inclusion of percent of tumor in the biopsy set in models for the preoperative prediction of pathological stage and should be factored into discussions with patients on treatment options.

Prediction of tumour volume and pathological stage in radical prostatectomy specimens is not improved by taking more prostate needle‐biopsy cores

To determine what, if any, additional prognostic information is available from the prostate needle biopsy by comparing the number of biopsy cores obtained with the pathology assessed from the radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) specimen. The results from 135 consecutive patients who underwent RRP at a single institution were reviewed. Needle biopsy information (number of cores, percentage of positive cores, laterality of the positive cores, and Gleason sum) were compared with the pathological data of the RRP specimen, including stage, Gleason sum and tumour volume. Patients were further stratified into those with six or fewer cores (96 men) or more than six cores (39 men). Clinical data, including biopsy information and pathological findings, were compared using univariate and multivariate models. Overall, univariate analysis showed that the total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, number of positive cores, bilateral positive cores and percentage of positive cores were directly correlated with tumour volume (P=0.01). Also, PSA and percentage of positive cores were directly correlated with extracapsular extension (P=0.008 and P=0.01, respectively). In the multivariate model, the most important independent predictors of RRP tumour volume and pathological stage were the preoperative PSA level and percentage of cancer in the biopsy (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between the number of cores obtained and the predicted pathology of the RRP specimen. There were no differences in the number of positive cores, bilateral positive cores or percentage tumour in the cores between men with more or less than six biopsies. In men with more than six core biopsies, there was no significant increase in prognostic information for tumour volume and extracapsular extension, or a correlation between the Gleason sum on biopsy and the RRP specimen. Taking more than six biopsies did not result in a significantly greater detection of potentially indolent tumours (defined as a tumour volume of <0.5 mL). While taking more prostate needle biopsy cores seems to improve the detection of prostate cancer, there appears to be no major improvement in prognostic information over that gained from traditional sextant biopsies. Furthermore, the results suggest that the percentage of positive cores is the best predictor of both pathological stage and tumour volume, from among the information readily available from prostate needle biopsy. Given the variability in the number of cores obtained for diagnosis in clinical practice, these results add credence to the use of the percentage of positive cores in the biopsy set, with known predictors such as PSA and Gleason score, into future models that attempt to predict tumour biology.

Correlation of Perineural Invasion on Radical Prostatectomy Specimens with Other Pathologic Prognostic Factors and PSA Failure

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between perineural invasion (PNI) and other pathologic prognostic factors in radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) specimens and also to assess the role of PNI in prostate–specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after RRP. Method: 191 consecutive patients had undergone RRP for clinically localized prostate cancer between 1992 and 2000. PNI in RRP specimens and its relation to histopathologic stage and surgical margins is investigated retrospectively. PNI, histopathologic stage, surgical margin status, Gleason score and PSA parameters were used as variables in multivariate analysis for recurrence. Results: PNI is correlated statistically significantly with histopathologic stage, positive surgical margins, specimen Gleason score and recurrence. Mean time to failure was earlier in patients with PNI than patients without PNI (56 vs. 73 months, log–rank 15.67, p<0.001). Lymph node involvement, positive surgical margins and PNI remained as independent predictors of recurrence in multivariate analysis. All patients with PNI, positive surgical margins and lymph node metastasis failed in 6 months. Conclusion: PNI is an important prognostic factor that should be taken into consideration in clinical patient management and follow–up after RRP. The presence of PNI together with positive surgical margins and lymph node metastasis may warrant early adjuvant treatment.