MORPHOLOGIC RESULTS OF 106 CONSECUTIVE RA DICAL PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL STAGE-B1-B3 (T2A-C) AND HISTOLOGIC NEGATIVE LYMPH-NODES IN THE FOSSA-OBTURATORIA

The morphologic results recorded in 106 consecutive radical prostatect omy specimens from patients with clinical stage B1-B3 (T2a-c) are pres ented. All specimens had inked margins and were subjected to morphomet ric work-up using a 3-mm step section technique. In only 39 (37 %) was the tumour confined to a single organ (pT2); 67 (63 %) were stage pT3 ; 40 (37.7 %) had only capsular penetration; and 27 (25.4 %) had semin al vesicle invasion. In 33 (31.1%) the surgical margin was positive. N one of those with pathological stage pT2 had a positive margin. Of the 40 patients with pathological stage pT3a+b, 19 (47.5 %) had a positiv e margin. Of the 27 patients with seminal vesicle invasion (pT3c), 14 (51.8 %) had a positive margin. Specimens with only unilateral seminal vesicle invasion or none at all had positive surgical margins in only 25 % and 24 % of cases, in contrast to those with bilateral seminal v esicle invasion, in which the rate for positive margins was 73 %. The mean tumour volume was 8.1cm(3) (0.12-50.13 cm(3)). There were 9 (8.4% ) tomours with a volume < 0.5% cm(3) while 62 specimens contained > 0. 5 cm(3) Gleason 4 and Gleason 5 tumours. Our analysis shows a good cor relation of the positive margin rate with tumour volume and especially with volume of the high-grade tumor.