Positive surgical margin at radical prostatectomy: Futile or surgeon-dependent predictor of prostate cancer death?

摘要

The clinical significance of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) has been the subject of debate in the uro-oncologic literature for decades. Despite improvements in surgical techniques, the introduction of new surgical approaches, and the significant stage shift in newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) since the introduction of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, PSMs are still reported in 11-38% of patients who have undergone RP [1]. Those men with PSMs are at increased risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR); therefore, several clinical trials investigated the value of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) to reduce recurrence and improve survival in these patients [1].