Does microinvasion of the capsule and/or micrometastases in regional lymph nodes influence disease-free survival after radical prostatectomy?

Since 1976, 126 patients with clinically localised carcinoma of the prostate have been managed by radical retropubic prostatectomy. All patients with tumour spread beyond the capsule or metastasis in lymph nodes received radiotherapy. Tumour category pT3 was divided into invasion of the capsule or infiltration of the seminal vesicle. The disease-free 10-year survival rate in patients with minimal invasion of the capsule was 72% and in patients with infiltration of the seminal vesicles it was 26%. Unilateral lymph node metastases were classified as microscopic disease or macroscopic infiltration. The disease-free 10-year survival rate in patients with metastasis in 1 lymph node (micro- and macro-metastasis) was 65% in contrast to 0% in patients with bilateral disease.