Staging laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in prostate cancer

Abstract

Laparoscopic transperitoneal lymphadenectomy can be performed expeditiously and safely. A two-stage procedure in some patients with prostate cancer is the management of choice. Attention to carefully closing the peritoneum with sutures minimizes any retropubic adhesions and no problems associated with the staging procedure were encountered during subsequent radical retropubic prostatectomy. In efforts to reduce negative staging lymphadenectomies, the exclusion values for staging should not be set too high (PSA and Gleason grading sum). Such practice, despite a relatively safe staging procedure, would lead to unnecessary radical prostatectomy.