title: Difference between actual vs. pathology prostate weight in TURP and radical robotic-assisted prostatectomy specimen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate and highlight the effect of formaldehyde induced weight reduction in transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and radical robotically-assisted prostatectomy (RALP) specimen as a result of standard chemical fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  51 patients were recruited from January 2013 to June 2013 who either underwent a TURP (n=26) or RALP (n=25). Data was collected prospectively by the operating surgeon who measured the native, unfixed histology specimen directly after operation. The specimens were fixed in 10% Formaldehyde Solution BP and sent to the pathology laboratory where after sufficient fixation period was re-weighed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall mean age 64.78 years, TURP mean age 68.31 years RALP mean age 61.12 years. We found that the overall prostatic specimen (n=51) weight loss after fixation was a mean of 11.20% (3.78 grams) (p ≤ 0.0001). Subgroup analysis of the native TURP chips mean weight was 16.15 grams and formalin treated mean weight was 14.00 grams (p ≤ 0.0001). Therefore, TURP chips had a mean of 13.32 % (2.15 grams) weight loss during chemical fixation. RALP subgroup unfixed specimen mean weight was 52.08 grams and formalin treated mean weight was 42.60 grams (p ≤ 0.0001), a 19.32 % (9.48 grams) mean weight reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It has not been known that prostatic chips and whole human radical prostatectomy specimen undergo a significant weight reduction. The practical significance of the accurate prostate weight in patient management may be limited, however, it is agreed that this should be recorded correctly, as data is potential interest for research purposes and vital for precise documentation.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Szilveszter
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lukacs
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazaris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005404:Fixatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde