title: Lymph node staging in prostate cancer: perspective for the pathologist.
abstract: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) currently represents the gold standard method for nodal staging in the setting of localised prostate cancer and may also have a therapeutic benefit in certain patients. The histopathological evaluation of PLND specimens plays a critical role in accurate lymph node staging, however there is currently a lack of consensus regarding the optimum approach and no quality parameters are in place. In addition, there are no guidelines as to the handling of less commonly encountered nodal specimens such as those identified within the anterior fat pad. This summary provides an overview of pertinent issues regarding lymph node staging in prostate cancer, with a focus on the histopathological evaluation of resected nodal specimens. We hope that this review will further the discussion on how to achieve a more standardised approach to the processing and reporting of PLND specimens in the setting of prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prendeville
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Theodorus H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: van der Kwast
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000592:standards*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000072142:Pathologists; D010388:Pelvis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012107:Research Design
keywords: LYMPH NODES; METASTASIS; PROSTATE