title: Prostate cancer staging after radiation utilizing laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report assesses the feasibility of laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in irradiated patients with prostate cancer being considered for salvage therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six men, each with a prior history of external beam radiation therapy, and prostate-specific antigen or clinical failure, were selected as potential candidates for salvage therapy. Utilizing a standard diamond pattern trocar conformation, laparoscopy was performed to evaluate pelvic lymph node status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successfully completed in all patients with a mean operating room time of 154 minutes. Blood loss averaged 55 cc. Serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were not encountered in the follow-up of 6 months. Metastatic disease was demonstrated in 1 patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection is technically feasible in patients who have received irradiation, and appears to confer no additional morbidity over standard laparoscopic lymphadenectomy.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Department of Surgery, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Jarrard
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Chodak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy