Staging pelvic lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the prostate review of 91 cases.

Bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was done in 91 consecutive patients for the staging of carcinoma of the prostate. Of the 91 patients 47 additionally received placement of radioactive gold grains or iodine seeds into the prostate. The incidence of positive nodes was 53 per cent in patients with clinical stage A2 disease, 17 per cent in stage B1, 29 per cent in stage B2 and 56 per cent in stage C disease. Pedal lymphangiography was shown not to be a useful staging procedure. Excellent correlation exists between histologic grade and pathologic stage. The surgical technique and low complication rate are discussed.