DO SEMINAL OR PROSTATIC SECRETIONS PLAY A ROLE IN LOCAL RECURRENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY FOR LOCALIZED PROSTATE-CANCER

Neoplastic cellular contamination of the surgical bed may be responsib le for late local failure after radical prostatectomy. Cytology analys is of the seminal and prostatic fluid collected intraoperatively was u ndertaken in 30 patients. Neoplastic cells were found in 2 patients bo th with seminal vesicle involvement. Although it is difficult to admit that tumor spillage during surgery would be a major cause of local re currence, the presence of tumor cells in the ejaculate may be diagnost ic of seminal vesicle invasion. All patients with pathologic stage T2 had a negative cytologic finding.