[Gleason's system and pelvic lymphadenectomy in the pretherapeutic evaluation of cancer of the prostate. Apropos of 85 cases].

Accuracy of staging of prostatic cancer is related to invasive procedures since imaging methods do not allow a reliable knowledge of the nodal status. Unfortunately lymphadenectomy is adversely affected by morbidity and mortality, therefore alternative methods should be elaborated. Post-lymphographic aspiration cytology seems to be worthwhile, having proved to be a reliable, accurate, safe procedure which can provide useful information in the management of patients with prostatic cancer. Nevertheless uncertainty exists upon the clinical significance of negative cytologic findings. In this connection correlation between grading and aspiration cytology can constitute a further improvement. In our experience the Gleason grading system has shown to be the most reliable and reproducible. 85 patients classified according to the Gleason's system, underwent staging lymphadenectomy and no nodal metastases were present when the Gleason score was lower than 5. In 50 cases even aspiration cytology was accomplished before surgery. No false positive cytologic findings were seen on histologic verification. Two false negative results were obtained in patients with Gleason score higher than 5. In conclusion we believe that when prostatic cancer shows a Gleason score lower than 5 and the lymph node aspiration cytology is negative no staging lymphadenectomy should be performed. On the contrary in cases with Gleason sum from 5 to 10 negative nodal cytologic findings are inconclusive, nevertheless this rate of patients is low and the necessity of surgical staging can be really reduced.