Grossing and reporting of the radical prostatectomy specimen

The grossing and reporting of radical prostatectomy specimens are key issues in pathology. Consensus conferences have defined clear guidelines for UICC/TNM-relevant parameters, while the extent of embedding remains controversial. Various embedding protocols, such as the Bonn protocol, enable efficient processing with consistent diagnostic significance. The increasing use of standardized diagnostic schemes, such as those developed by the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR), can ensure (international) comparability of diagnoses. This paper explains the criteria for embedding and reporting with a particular focus on prognostically relevant findings such as the differentiation between pT2 and pT3 tumors.