Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Prostate Cancer

, Cheol Kwak

Review Article

The Korean Journal of Urological Oncology 2007;5(2):67-73.
Published online August 1, 2007.

Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Prostate Cancer

Cheol Kwak

Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Controversy exists as to the proper role and scale of pelvic lymph node dissection in current clinical practice. This review analyses the current status of pelvic lymph node dissection of prostate cancer and a systemic survey on results of studies published as original papers in peer-reviewed journals is provided. Extended lymph node dissection removed more lymph nodes and detected more lymph node positive disease. A significant benefit in cancer-specific survival or biochemical recurrence-free survival may exist for certain group undergoing the extended lymph node dissection. And immediate androgen deprivation therapy may benefit patients with nodal metastasis who have undergone prostatectomy and lymph node dissection, compared with those who received deferred treatment. Extended pelvic lymph node dissection may be necessary to detect occult positive lymph nodes, and it may also have potential therapeutic benefits in some patients with lymph node positive disease. However, randomized prospective study is necessary to determine the adequate extent of lymph node dissection, the impact of separate versus en bloc lymph node submission, and so on. (Korean J Urol Oncol 2007;5:67-73)

Key Words: Prostatic neoplasms, Lymph node excision, Prostatectomy