AIMS: Positive margins (PM) after radical prostatectomy are of large interest, but investigation of the vas deferens (VD) is not recommended.
This study examined the VD margins in radical prostatectomy patients to report the incidence and their clinical staging.
METHODS AND RESULTS: 2701 consecutive specimens (1995-2009) were reviewed for a tumour infiltration of the VD margin and correlated with clinico-pathological data. 41/2701 cases (1.5%) had a positive VD margin. 13 cases had a bilateral infiltration. All tumours were locally advanced (pT3a (n=1), pT3b (n=34), pT4 (n=6)), 15 (37%) had lymph node metastases. While Gleason scores ranged from 7 to 9, mean PSA was 22.3 ng/ml (1.68-127 ng/ml). In all cases with seminal vesicle infiltration (40/41) the PM of the VD was seen ipsilaterally. In 11/15 patients (73%) with pN1 status, seminal vesicle infiltration and PM of the VD were seen on the same side. In 16 cases (39%) the VD was the only PM.
CONCLUSIONS: A PM of the VD is an infrequent finding but might appear as the only margin. Histological evaluation of the VD therefore seems reasonable, especially since biochemical recurrence has been reported at these margins. Their knowledge might assist with the clinical decision for adjuvant therapy.
Written by:
Saar M, Kamradt J, Sauer C, Stöckle M, Grobholz R. Are you the author?
Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Reference: Histopathology. 2014 Jan 16. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/his.12369
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24428685
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