LAUSR

61Background: In published series of extended pelvic LN dissection (LND), an association between higher number of LNs resected and both higher rate of occult LN disease discovery and long-term bRFS (for pN0) was observed. Despite this, practice patterns of LND extent (and associated number of LNs examined) vary, with the majority being limited to local nodal sampling. It remains unclear whether the LN yield correlates with bRFS in this context. The present investigation examines whether the number of LNs examined at RP is associated with bRFS. Methods: Patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, initial PSA < 30, and pT2-3a/N0 disease at RP were retrospectively identified for inclusion. Those who received pre-RP or adjuvant radiotherapy or hormone therapy were excluded. Kaplan-Meier method was employed for survival probability estimation. Cox regression models were used to assess bRFS differences. Results: From 2002 to 2010, 672 patients were eligible for this analysis. The median age was 61 yrs (...