title: Distribution of the lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prostatic fascia-preserving procedure is effective for the early recovery of erectile function after radical prostatectomy; however, the long-term influence of on cancer control was unknown. This study clarified the distribution of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lymphatic vessels were analyzed in 10 prostates obtained from fixed Japanese cadavers (aged, 71-90 years old). Specimens were taken from the apex, the middle part, and the base of the right-hand side of the prostate. Lymphatic vessels were detected by immunohistochemical stain using an antibody specific for the lymphatic endothelial cells (clone D2-40). The lymphatic vessels were counted in the prostate capsule and the prostatic fascia of each section by light microscopy at low power (100×).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic capsule per prostatic half was 21.0, 14.0, and 21.0 in the apex, middle, and base part of the prostate, respectively. In the prostatic facia the median number of lymphatic vessels per prostatic half was 8.0, 3.0, and 13.0 in the apex, middle, and the base part of the prostate, respectively. In the apex and the middle part the lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia were fewer than those in the prostatic capsule. However, in the base part the number of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia was similar to that in the prostatic capsule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggested the surgeon to pay more attention for the dissection of the fascia at the base of the prostate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuou-ku, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soga
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling