A contemporary update on pathology reporting for prostate cancer: biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimens

Context

The diagnosis of and reporting parameters for prostate cancer (PCa) have evolved over time, yet they remain key components in predicting clinical outcomes.

Objective

Update pathology reporting standards for PCa.

Evidence acquisition

A thorough literature review was performed for articles discussing PCa handling, grading, staging, and reporting published as of September 15, 2011. Electronic articles published ahead of print were also considered. Proceedings of recent international conferences addressing these areas were extensively reviewed.

Evidence synthesis

Two main areas of reporting were examined: (1) prostatic needle biopsy, including handling, contemporary Gleason grading, extent of involvement, and high-risk lesions/precursors and (2) radical prostatectomy (RP), including sectioning, multifocality, Gleason grading, staging of organ-confined and extraprostatic disease, lymph node involvement, tumor volume, and lymphovascular invasion. For each category, consensus views, controversial areas, and clinical import were reviewed.

Conclusions

Modern prostate needle biopsy and RP reports are extremely detailed so as to maximize clinical utility. Accurate diagnosis of cancer-specific features requires up-to-date knowledge of grading, quantitation, and staging criteria. While some areas remain controversial, efforts to codify existing knowledge have had a significant impact on pathology practice.