THE ROLE OF LYMPHADENECTOMY IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS

• Published in: Acta clinica Croatica (Tisak) Vol. 58; no. Suppl 2; pp. 24 - 35
• Main Authors: Markić, Dean, Oguić, Romano, Krpina, Kristian, Vukelić, Ivan, Đorđević, Gordana, Žuža, Iva, Španjol, Josip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatia Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medical Research, Vinogradska cesta c. 29 Zagreb 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Professional Papers; Radical prostatectomy; Radiotherapy; Prostate cancer; Pelvic lymph node dissection
• ISSN: 0353-9466; 1333-9451
• DOI: 10.20471/acc.2019.58.s2.05

Prostate cancer is one of the most important men's health issues in developed countries. For patients with prostate cancer a preoperative staging of the disease must be made. Involvement of lymph nodes could be assessed using imaging methods (CT or/and MRI), however, newer methods also exist (PET/CT, PSMA PET/CT). For some patients during radical prostatectomy a pelvic lymphadenectomy is recommended. Pelvic lymphadenectomy is indicated in intermediate- and high-risk group patients and with increased probability of lymph node invasion. The most used prediction tools for preoperative assessment of lymph nodes are Briganti and MSKCC nomograms and Partin tables. Pelvic lymphadenectomy can include different lymph nodes group, but extended lymphadenectomy is the recommended procedure. In 1-20% of patients, the lymph node invasion is present. Pelvic lymphadenectomy is primarily a diagnostic and staging method, and in minority of patients with positive lymph nodes it can be a curative method, too. In other patients with positive lymph nodes adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy) can be beneficial.