The role of the pathologist in diagnosing prostate cancer and guiding therapy

In summary, the role of the pathologist has proven indispensable in diagnosing prostate cancer, planning initial therapy, assessing prognosis, estimating the likely benefit of adjuvant therapy following prostatectomy or radiation therapy, and in following patients for possible recurrent disease. Moreover, the work of pathologists has been pivotal in the research that has lead to our present understanding of the natural history of prostate cancer and the present methods for estimating the likelihood of benefit from various therapies. Such work continues to be integral to scientific advancement in these areas.