Evaluating radical prostatectomy specimens: therapeutic and prognostic importance.

The pathologic staging of prostate cancer involves determination of the anatomic extent and burden of tumor based on the best available data. Proper examination of radical prostatectomy specimens is critical in determining cancer stage, stratifying patient need for adjuvant treatment, and prediction of patient outcome. Differences exist in methods of handling and sampling specimens, although publication of practice protocols in recent years has led to convergence of opinion. In this report, we evaluate the current aspects of pathologic staging of prostate cancer and assessment of prostatectomy specimens. Recent international agreement on pathologic staging of prostate cancer should allow valid comparisons of surgical treatment from different institutions. The vanishing cancer phenomenon is also briefly discussed.