Oncological outcome of patients treated with spot-specific salvage lymphnode dissection (sLND) for positron-emission tomography (PET)-positive prostate cancer (PCa) relapse.

To report pre-, postoperative and oncological outcomes in patients treated with spot-specific sLND for patients with exclusive nodal recurrence after PCa primary treatment. With regard to salvage treatment failure (sTF), 46 consecutive patients, undergoing 52 sLND for nodal recurrence detected by PET/CT scan were stratified in 3 groups (group A: post-sLND PSA nadir < 0.01 ng/ml and in follow-up reaching a value > 0.2 ng/ml, group B: post-sLND PSA nadir > 0.01 ng/ml and in follow-up reaching a value equal to pre-sLND PSA; group C: additional salvage treatment administration). Surgical outcome of patients was analyzed by descriptive statistics (Student's t test for continuous variables, Chi-square and Fisher's test for categorial ones). Time to sTF of each group was analyzed and compared by Kaplan-Meier method and correlations regarding sTF and pre-sLND PSA, time from PCa primary treatment to PET/CT scan, time from PCa primary treatment to sLND and number of positive PET/CT scan spots were assessed. Median PSA at PET/CT scan was 2.9 ng/ml (IQR 1.2-6.1). Open and laparoscopic sLND were performed in 40/52 (77%) and 12/52 (23%), respectively. Median number of removed lymph nodes was 6 (IQR 4-13). Histological report was positive for PCa in 39/52 sLND (75%). Median blood loss was 50 ml (IQR 0-50, range 0-600). Median length of hospital stay was 5 days (IQR 4-6). 4 and 7 patients had low-grade (I/II) and high-grade (≥ III) Clavien-Dindo complications, respectively. Readmission rates at 30 and 90 days were 5/52 (9.6%) and 1/52 (2%), respectively. sTF was observed in 2/7 (group A), 12/12 (group B) and 22/22 patients (group C). Median time to sTF in group B and C was 3.5 (IQR 1.7-13.2) and 4 months (IQR 2.0-10), respectively. Even spot-specific PET/CT sLND harbors a measurable (CD > III) morbidity in 1 out of 7 patients. Only patients with positive histological report and a PSA nadir < 0.01 ng/ml after sLND seem to experience a long-term benefit. Patients with a PSA nadir > 0.01 ng/ml have a delay of systemic treatment of up to 4 months. sLND remains an experimental approach and long-term oncological benefit needs an improved selection of patients.