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Distribution of the lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia
Author(s) -
Soga Hideo,
Takenaka Atsushi,
Murakami Gen,
Haraguchi Takahiro,
Miyake Hideaki,
Tanaka Kazushi,
Fujisawa Masato
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.21343
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , medicine , distribution (mathematics) , anatomy , prostate , fascia , pathology , cancer , mathematical analysis , mathematics
BACKGROUND The prostatic fascia‐preserving procedure is effective for the early recovery of erectile function after radical prostatectomy; however, the long‐term influence of on cancer control was unknown. This study clarified the distribution of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia. MATERIAL AND METHODS The lymphatic vessels were analyzed in 10 prostates obtained from fixed Japanese cadavers (aged, 71–90 years old). Specimens were taken from the apex, the middle part, and the base of the right‐hand side of the prostate. Lymphatic vessels were detected by immunohistochemical stain using an antibody specific for the lymphatic endothelial cells (clone D2‐40). The lymphatic vessels were counted in the prostate capsule and the prostatic fascia of each section by light microscopy at low power (100×). RESULTS The median number of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic capsule per prostatic half was 21.0, 14.0, and 21.0 in the apex, middle, and base part of the prostate, respectively. In the prostatic facia the median number of lymphatic vessels per prostatic half was 8.0, 3.0, and 13.0 in the apex, middle, and the base part of the prostate, respectively. In the apex and the middle part the lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia were fewer than those in the prostatic capsule. However, in the base part the number of lymphatic vessels in the prostatic fascia was similar to that in the prostatic capsule. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggested the surgeon to pay more attention for the dissection of the fascia at the base of the prostate. Prostate 71:1294–1298, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.