Prostate. Practice parameters, pathologic staging, and handling radical prostatectomy specimens.

This article addresses the handling, processing, and reporting of radical prostatectomy specimens with the goal of providing general guidelines and practical suggestions for the surgical pathologist. During the last decade, pathologists in academic and community institutions have witnessed a surge in the number of radical prostatectomy specimens evaluated in their departments. Unlike the relative familiarity most pathologists have with other major oncologic resections, radical prostatectomy specimens present an interesting and occasionally frustrating challenge with respect to gross evaluation, sampling, and reporting.