Nondetectable Prostate Carcinoma (pT0) after Radical Prostatectomy: A Narrative Review

Curr Oncol. 2022 Feb 23;29(3):1309-1315. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29030111.

Abstract

(1) Background: Following radical prostatectomy (RP), the absence of a demonstrable tumor on the specimen of a previously histologically proven malignancy is known as the pT0 stage. The aim of our present study is to perform a narrative review of current literature in order to determine the frequency and oncological outcomes in patients with pT0 disease. (2) Methods: A narrative review of all available literature was performed. (3) Results: The incidence of pT0 ranges between 0.07% and 1.3%. Predictors of the pT0 stage are only a single biopsy core with low-grade cancer, a cancer length not exceeding 2 mm and a high prostate volume. Biochemical recurrence ranges between 0 and 11%. (4) Conclusions: The absence of malignancy in the RP specimen despite a previous positive biopsy is a rare and unpredictable finding. Although the prognosis is considered to be excellent in most of the cases, a continued close follow-up is warranted.

Keywords: prostate cancer; prostatectomy; vanishing cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma* / pathology
  • Carcinoma* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatectomy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / surgery