title: Pathological analysis of lymph nodes in anterior prostatic fat excised at robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the lymph node content of anterior prostatic fat (APF) sent routinely at robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and the incidence of positive nodes in the extended pelvic lymph node dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2008 and April 2012, APF excised from 282 patients who underwent RALP was sent for pathological analysis. This tissue was completely embedded and lymph nodes counted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 49/282 (17%) patients had lymph nodes in the APF, median lymph node yield in this tissue was 1 (range 1–5). In four patients, the lymph nodes contained metastatic deposits. These patients did not have positive nodes elsewhere in the extended lymph node dissection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APF contains lymph nodes in 1 in 6 patients and infrequently these may be malignant. APF should always be removed at radical prostatectomy. APF should be routinely sent for pathological analysis.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Aning
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thurairaja
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gillatt
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Koupparis
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oxley
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted