The prognosis of patients with advanced prostate cancer who have lymph node metastasis depends on the number of positive lymph nodes removed and Gleason score of the primary tumor.

Bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection should be performed in intermediate- and high-risk patients to identify those with minimal nodal burden who may benefit the most from removal of metastatic nodes.

Joel T Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.