Role of Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Prostate Cancer Management

What is the preferred management of lower ureteral stones? SWL or URS - a critical evaluation with an emphasis on the changes in patient's quality of life

To compare the efficacy and safety of two treatment methods for lower ureteral stones: shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopic treatment (URS), with a focus on the impact on patients' Quality of Life (QoL). A total of 174 patients with solitary radiopaque lower ureteral stones (5-10 mm) between July 2023 and October 2024 were treated with SWL (78 patients) or URS (96 patients). Stone-free (SF) status was evaluated at 3 months using Non-Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT). Data included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), stone size, and post-procedural analgesic requirement. QoL was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) index. Although SF rates were significantly higher in the URS group (96.9% vs. 84.6%, p = 0.009), comparable SF rates for stones < 10 mm and symptom-free status during long-term follow-up suggest that SWL remains a valuable alternative. Additionally, 96.2% of patients expressed willingness to choose SWL again, highlighting patient satisfaction. SWL produced similar results to URS in physical functioning and general health, but URS showed better outcomes in pain and emotional well-being, possibly due to residual stone fragments. SWL offers advantages such as shorter recovery times, reduced need for pain medication, and no requirement for general anesthesia, making it a preferred option for patients seeking non-invasive treatment. Both methods showed similar outcomes in QoL, particularly in physical functioning and general health, demonstrating that SWL is an effective non-invasive treatment for lower ureteric stones.

The role of side-specific biopsy and dominant tumor location at radical prostatectomy in predicting the side of nodal metastases in organ confined prostate cancer: is lymphatic spread really unpredictable?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the location of prostate cancer (PCa) either at biopsy or at radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens and the side of positive lymph nodes (LNs). Furthermore, we assessed the risk of contralateral LN metastasis (LNMs) in patients with unilateral positive biopsy and/or dominant lesion at RP.

METHODS

We reviewed retrospectively our prospectively maintained database of patients with LNM treated with robot-assisted RP and bilateral robot-assisted extended pelvic lymph node dissection (EPLND) for PCa from January 2014 to May 2018 at a surgical high-volume center. All men with a suspicion for PCa underwent a 12-cores prostate biopsy. In case of a first negative biopsy but the persistence of suspicion, all the patients underwent prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and subsequently either fusion targeted biopsy (TBx) or systematic standard biopsy (SBx), in case of positive or negative mpMRI, respectively. All patients underwent a robot-assisted RP. Whole-mount histological sections resected from the RP specimens were used as reference standards.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients were enrolled for the study. Median number of LNs retrieved per patient was 26, specifically 13 and 12, on the left and right side, respectively. Seven of 24 (29.1%) right lobe positive biopsy showed positive LNs on the left side (one exclusively left, 6 bilateral LNMs). Again, 12 of 26 (46.1%) left lobe positive biopsy showed positive LNs on the right side (one exclusively right, 11 bilateral LNMs). No significant differences of performance to predict the side of LNMs were recorded in the SBx and TBx groups. Concerning RP specimens, only five of 22 (22.7%) right lobe dominant cases showed positive LNs on the left side (two exclusively left, 3 bilateral LN metastases). Again, none of 16 left lobe dominant cases showed positive LNs on the contralateral side (15 exclusively right, 1 bilateral LNMs).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest confirmed that a unilateral LN dissection limited to the tumor-bearing side of the gland evaluated by biopsy specimens should not be recommended due to the substantial risk of missing contralateral LNMs.

Robot-Assisted Extended Pelvic Lymph Nodes Dissection for Prostate Cancer: Personal Surgical Technique and Outcomes

Objective:

Extended pelvic lymph nodes dissection (EPLND) allows the removal of a higher number of lymph nodes than limited PLND. The aims of this study were to describe our robot-assisted EPLND (RAEPLND) technique with related complications, and to report the number of lymph nodes removed and the rate of lymph nodal metastasis.

Materials and Methods:

153 patients underwent RAEPLND prior to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Indications were defined according to Briganti nomogram, to predict risk of lymph-nodal metastasis. Lymphatic packages covering the distal tract of the common iliac artery, the medial portion of the external iliac artery, the external iliac vein and the internal iliac vessels, together with the obturator and the presacral lymphatic packages were removed on both sides.

Results:

Median preoperative PSA was 7.5 ng/mL (IQR 5.5–11.5). Median operative time was 150 min (135–170). Median RAEPLND alone operative time was 38 min (32.75–41.25); for right and left side, 18 (15–29) and 20 min (15.75–30) (p=0.567). Median number of lymph nodes retrieved per patient was 25 (19.25–30); 13 (11–16) and 11 (8–15) for right and left side. In 19 patients (12.41%) metastasis was found at the level of pelvic lymph nodes. Median number of positive lymph nodes was 1 (1–4.6) per patient. Complications occurred in 11 patients (7.3%).

Conclusions:

the number of lymph nodes removed was comparable to published data about open series, allowing the increase of detection rate of lymph nodal metastasis for minimally invasive approach without compromising complications' rate if performing the procedure following reported technique.

Pathological analysis of lymph nodes in anterior prostatic fat excised at robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Aims

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.

Spine metastases in prostate cancer: comparison of technetium-99m-MDP whole-body bone scintigraphy, [(18) F]choline positron emission tomography(PET)/computed tomography (CT) and [(18) F]NaF PET/CT

OBJECTIVE

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the following imaging techniques in the detection of spine metastases, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference: whole-body bone scintigraphy (WBS) with technetium-99m-MDP, [18F]-sodium fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and [(18) F]-fluoromethylcholine (FCH) PET/CT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study entry criteria were biopsy-proven prostate cancer, a positive WBS consistent with bone metastases, and no history of androgen deprivation. Within 30 days of informed consent, trial scans were performed in random order. Scans were interpreted blindly for the purpose of a lesion-based analysis. The primary target variable was bone lesion (malignant/benign) and the 'gold standard' was MRI.

RESULTS

A total of 50 men were recruited between May 2009 and March 2012. Their mean age was 73 years, their median PSA level was 84 ng/mL, and the mean Gleason score of the tumours was 7.7. A total of 46 patients underwent all four scans, while four missed one PET/CT scan. A total of 526 bone lesions were found in the 50 men: 363 malignant and 163 non-malignant according to MRI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were: WBS: 51, 82, 86, 43 and 61%; NaF-PET/CT: 93, 54, 82, 78 and 81%; and FCH-PET/CT: 85, 91, 95, 75 and 87%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that FCH-PET/CT and NaF-PET/CT were superior to WBS with regard to detection of prostate cancer bone metastases within the spine. The present results call into question the use of WBS as the method of choice in patients with hormone-naïve prostate cancer.

[Imaging diagnostics of advanced prostate cancer]

The diagnostic approach to prostate cancer is still a big challenge for the treating physician. Regarding an individualized and risk-adapted evaluation of different therapeutic options, precise diagnostic tools are crucial to accurately distinguish between localized and advanced prostate cancer. Imaging of advanced prostate cancer is currently changing due to numerous technical innovations. While choline-based hybrid positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) has been established as an important diagnostic tool in clinical imaging of advanced prostate cancer, well-investigated methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy are currently expanding the diagnostic potential due to technical improvements. The specific use of imaging for advanced prostate cancer may help to offer the patient a well-tailored oncologic therapy. Further research is needed to evaluate whether this individualized therapy can consistently improve the prognosis of patients suffering from advanced prostate cancer.

18F-Fluoroethylcholine PET/CT identifies lymph node metastasis in patients with prostate-specific antigen failure after radical prostatectomy but underestimates its extent

BACKGROUND

The detection of lymph node metastases (LNMs) is one of the biggest challenges in imaging in urology.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of combined 18F-fluoroethylcholine (FEC) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the detection of LNMs in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after radical prostatectomy.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS

From June 2005 until November 2011, 56 PCa patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy underwent bilateral pelvic and/or retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy based on a positive 18F-FEC PET/CT scan.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The findings of PET/CT were compared with the histologic results.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Median PSA value at the time of 18F-FEC PET/CT analysis was 6.0 ng/ml (interquartile range: 1.7-9.4 ng/ml). In 48 of 56 (85.7%) patients with positive 18F-FEC PET/CT findings, histologic examination confirmed the presence of PCa LNMs. Of 1149 lymph nodes that were removed and histologically evaluated, 282 (24.5%) harbored metastasis. The mean number of lymph nodes removed per surgical procedure was 21 (standard deviation: ± 18.3). A lesion-based analysis yielded 18F-FEC PET/CT sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 39.7%, 95.8%, 75.7%, and 83.0%, respectively. A site-based analysis yielded sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 68.4%, 73.3%, 81.3%, and 57.9%, respectively. Patients with negative PET/CT did not undergo surgery, thus sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value on a patient basis could not be calculated.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive 18F-FEC PET/CT result correctly predicted the presence of LNM in the majority of PCa patients with biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy but did not allow for localization of all metastatic lymph nodes and therefore was not adequately accurate for the precise estimation of extent of nodal recurrence in these patients.

Complications of lymphadenectomy in urologic surgery

Lymphadenectomy in urologic surgery provides accurate staging and may be therapeutic in some patients with lymph node metastases. In addition to the associated cost, pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) has the potential for morbidity. This article focuses on the complications associated with PLND, including lymphocele, thromboembolic events, ureteral injury, nerve injury, vascular injury, and lymphedema. With improvements in surgical technique and perioperative care, the morbidity associated with lymphadenectomy may be minimized.

Comments on the extraperitoneal approach for standard laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: what is gained and what is lost

Laparoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (LERP) is considered the standard care treatment option for the management of localized and locally advanced prostatic cancer (PCa) in many institutes worldwide. In this work, the main advantages and disadvantages of LERP approach are reviewed with regard to its outcomes, the complication management, the learning curve, and the extend of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). It is concluded that LERP demonstrates comparable cancer control, urinary continence, and potency outcomes with the open and the robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, while offering advantages in complication management in comparison to the transperitoneal approach. Learning curve of LERP is considered long and stiff and significantly affects perioperative outcomes and morbidity, cancer control, and functional results. Thus, close mentoring especially in the beginning of the learning curve is advised. Finally, LERP still has a role in the limited or modified PLND offered in intermediate risk PCa patients.

Biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy in Korean men with high-risk prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy with or without standard pelvic lymphadenectomy in Korean men with high-risk prostate cancer.

METHODS

The clinical and pathologic data of 199 patients with high-risk features were reviewed retrospectively. High-risk features were prostate-specific antigen level >20 ng/ml, biopsy Gleason score ≥8 or clinical tumor category ≥2c. All patients were followed up by measuring their prostate-specific antigen levels every 3 months. The median follow-up period was 37.0 months (range: 1.0-143.0).

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, biochemical recurrence was observed in 68 patients (34.2%). The 1-, 3- and 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rates were 79.6, 61.9 and 49.2%, respectively. Surgical Gleason score ≥8, positive surgical margin, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle invasion correlated significantly with biochemical recurrence-free survival (all P < 0.05), but pelvic lymphadenectomy did not. Multivariate Cox's proportional hazard analysis revealed that the only significant independent prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence-free survival was seminal vesicle invasion (P = 0.035, relative risk = 1.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Men with seminal vesicle invasion appear to have a significantly higher biochemical recurrence risk in patients with high-risk prostate cancer. However, since the natural history of prostate cancer is variable and accurate means of identifying those who will progress are currently available, it will be necessary to conduct further studies to find prognostic parameters that will allow the early identification of high-risk patients who could benefit from early salvage or adjuvant therapy.

Profiling protein markers associated with lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer by DIGE-based proteomics analysis

Current predictive tools and imaging modalities are not accurate enough for preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastatic prostate cancer (LNM PCa). Proteomic analysis is introduced to screen potential biomarkers for early detection of LNM PCa. In our initial study, protein samples from localized and LNM PCa as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues were analyzed using two-dimensional fluorescence difference in gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. We identified 58 proteins that were differentially expressed in the LNM PCa group relative to the localized PCa group. Six of these proteins, e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, SLP2, and SM22, are functionally relevant to cancer metastasis. Expression of these proteins was therefore further validated in tissue samples from the original cohort and also from a larger, independent cohort of patients using real time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry staining. In addition, the serum levels of e-FABP5 were also examined by ELISA. Relative to localized PCa tissues, LNM PCa tissues had increased expression of e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, and SLP2 and decreased expression of SM22. Patients with LNM PCa had significantly higher levels of serum e-FABP5. This study presents evidence that increased expression of e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, and SLP2 and decreased expression of SM22 are useful diagnostic markers for the existence of LNM PCa.

Case report: loss of hernia mesh after simultaneous laparoscopic extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy, radical prostatectomy, and hernioplasty

We present a case of prosthetic mesh hernia repair of a unilateral inguinal hernia following laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection and radical prostatectomy. After an uneventful intraoperative and early postoperative period, the patient developed a lymphocele. This resulted in the detachment of the mesh from the abdominal wall, which necessitated its removal.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic extended pelvic lymph node dissection for prostate cancer: surgical technique and experience with the first 99 cases

BACKGROUND

To date, there is still a paucity of data in the literature on robotic-assisted laparoscopic extended pelvic lymph node dissection (RALEPLND) in patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the technical feasibility of RALEPLND and to present our surgical technique.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From April 2006 to March 2008, we performed RALEPLND in 99 patients prior to robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Indications for RALEPLND were a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) > or = 10 ng/ml or a preoperative Gleason score > or = 7. The data were evaluated retrospectively.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

The transperitoneal approach was used in all cases. In order to gain optimal access to the common iliac bifurcation, the five trocars were placed in a more cephalad position than in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy without RALEPLND. After identification of important landmarks, the lymphatics covering the external iliac vein, the obturator lymphatic packet, and the lymphatics overlying the internal iliac artery were removed on both sides.

MEASUREMENTS

The total lymph node yield, the frequency of lymph node metastases, and the complication rate.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The median patient age was 64 yr (range: 45-78). The median preoperative PSA level was 7.7 ng/ml (range: 1.5-84.6). The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 19 (range: 8-53). In 16 patients (16%), we found lymph node metastasis. Complications occurred in seven patients (7%).

CONCLUSIONS

RALEPLND is feasible, and its lymph node yield is well in the range of open series. The robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach in itself does not seem to limit a surgeon's ability to perform a complete extended pelvic lymph node dissection.