Why Are Lymph Nodes Removed During Prostatectomy?

When prostate cancer spreads, or metastasizes, it often does so into lymph nodes in the area of the prostate. For this reason, the lymph nodes close to the prostate may be removed to check for spreading. The lymph nodes may be removed through an incision or, on occasion, using laparoscopy.

How many lymph nodes are removed during prostatectomy?

It has been shown that the estimated number of lymph nodes necessary for optimal staging accuracy ranges between 20 and 28. [27] Abdollah and colleagues determined that the removal of 20 nodes resulted in accurate staging in 90% of their patients.

Are lymph nodes removed during robotic prostatectomy?

Conclusion: Robot-assisted laparoscopic PLND yielded fewer lymph nodes compared to open PLND at the time of radical prostatectomy for organ confined disease. Patients with higher risk disease may benefit from open prostatectomy with PLND early in a program's robotics experience.