Lymph Nodes Invasion of Marcille’s Fossa Associates with High Metastatic Load in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: The Role of “Marcillectomy”

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To assess the incidence of malignancy involvement of lymph nodes (LNs) in Marcille's fossa in patients undergoing robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and extended pelvic lymph nodes dissection (ePLND) for prostate cancer (PCa). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between January 2014 and December 2017, details of patients who underwent RARP and ePLND were prospectively analysed. All the nodal packets were dissected separately, grouped into left and right nodes and submitted in separate packages to dedicated pathologist. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Two hundred and twenty-one patients underwent ePLND and RARP in the study period. In aggregate, Marcille's LNs involvement was found in 5 (2.3%) of patients, 2 on the left side and 3 on the right side. Per cent of positive cores and Gleason at biopsy are clinical predictors of LNs invasion; moreover, in the surgical specimen, seminal vesicle invasion and high-grade cancer were factors related to loco-regional metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Marcille's nodes involvement is associated to contemporarily multiple LN metastases in other template locations in high-risk PCa patients. The Marcille's lymphadenectomy would be recommended when planning an ePLND in high-risk PCa.