title: Periprostatic lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer and its clinical significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential of periprostatic lymph node (LN) as a staging indicator, particularly with the use of methods for enhanced detection of micrometastasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We retrieved cases with periprostatic LN from radical prostatectomy specimens accrued between 1997 and 2007 at our institution. Twenty-one (0.8%) of 2663 radical prostatectomy specimens had periprostatic LNs (total number of LNs = 22). LN size ranged from 0.8 to 4.7 mm. Most of the periprostatic LNs were located close to the posterior base. Seven (32%) of 22 LNs were involved by metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), including five detected on routine haematoxylin and ceosin slides and an additional two detected only by immunohistochemistry. Cases with periprostatic LNs had a significantly higher metastatic rate (29%; six of 21) compared to those with pelvic LNs sampled at radical prostectatomy in our institution (1.9%). When compared to cases with negative periprostatic LNs (n = 15), the tumour characteristics of cases with metastatic periprostatic LNs (n = 6) included higher tumour volume, Gleason score, stage and a greater propensity for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite their infrequent identification, periprostatic LNs if detected in the radical prostatectomy specimen should be evaluated with greater scrutiny (step sections and/or immunohistochemical studies) to evaluate their prognostic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Fang-Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Savvas E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mendrinos
authors.forename: Kasturi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melamed
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery