Assessment of the circumferential margins, extraprostatic extension and Gleason score in radical prostatectomy specimens: Comparison of a partial embedding method with supplemental total inclusion of peripheral tissues.

Background: Recent data suggest that up to 21% of positive circumferential margins (PCM) and 47% of extraprostatic extension (EPE) samples may be missed when partial embedding methods are employed. Kim and colleagues (2009) suggested that total inclusion of the periphery (3mm rim) of the prostate prevented the failure to detect PCM and EPE.

Design: Radical prostatectomy specimen (n=148) slides were reviewed after adoption of a protocol that included a ∼3 mm rim of peripheral tissues. We evaluated whether the analysis of supplemental slides of prostate periphery changed margin status, presence of EPE, Gleason score and extent of PCM and EPE.

Results: Partial sampling resulted in missing 29% of PCM and 20% of EPE without using data from the supplemental slides of prostate periphery. Changes from focal to extensive disease were found in 11/21 (52%) cases of positive circumferential margins and in 5/13 (38%) cases of extraprostatic extension. Changes in the Gleason score were uncommon.

Conclusions: These results indicate the importance of including all the prostate peripheral tissue for microscopic analysis when partial embedding methods are adopted.