Extensive retraction artefact predicts biochemical recurrence‐free survival in prostatic carcinoma

Tomas D, Spajić B, Milošević M, Demirović A, Marušić Z & Krušlin B
(2011) Histopathology 58 , 447–454
 Extensive retraction artefact predicts biochemical recurrence‐free survival in prostatic carcinoma Aims:  To determine whether the presence and extent of peritumoral retraction artefact could be used to predict biochemical recurrence‐free survival in prostatic carcinoma. Methods and results:  The study included 162 consecutive patients treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy for clinically localized prostatic carcinoma. A variable degree of retraction artefact was present in all 162 analysed tumours. The extent of retraction artefact in prostatic carcinomas ranged from 5% to 55% with a median value of 15% (interquartile range 10–25%). We found no correlation between the extent of retraction artefact in the tumours and patient’s age ( P  = 0.608), preoperative ( P  = 0.362) and postoperative ( P  = 0.279) Gleason score or lymph node metastases ( P  = 0.084). In contrast, the extent of retraction artefact correlated with high preoperative prostate‐specific antigen ( P  <   0.001), short follow‐up time ( P  <   0.001), seminal vesicle invasion and/or extracapsular extension of the tumour (T3 stage tumours) ( P  <   0.001) and positive surgical margins ( P  <   0.001). Furthermore, extensive retraction artefact was associated with poor biochemical recurrence‐free survival in both univariate ( P  <   0.001) and multivariate analyses ( P  = 0.013). Conclusion:  The presence of extensive retraction artefact in prostatic carcinoma correlates with tumour characteristics signifying aggressive behaviour and indicates poor biochemical recurrence‐free survival.