A positive lymph node status is a major prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and mortality following radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients or radical cystectomy in bladder cancer patients.
However, despite having histopathologic negative lymph nodes, a substantial proportion of patient suffers from tumor recurrence within a few years after the operation. Tumor recurrence in node-negative patients may result from hematogeneous or lymphatic metastatic spread which remains undetected by standard clinical or histopathologic examinations. Molecular lymph node analysis is a potential method for detection of lymph node metastases with higher sensitivity and for prognostic risk stratification of patients with histopathologic negative lymph nodes.
Written by:
Heck MM, Retz M, Nawroth R. Are you the author?
Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675, München, Deutschland.
Reference: Urologe A. 2014 Apr;53(4):484-90.
doi: 10.1007/s00120-014-3441-4
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24671247
Article in German.
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