Incidence and significance of positive margins in radical prostatectomy specimens

This article discusses how the incidence of positive margins may be affected by patient selection, technical differences in performing radical prostatectomy, and processing and analysis of radical prostatectomy specimens. The various sites of positive margins and capsular incision are reviewed. Whether frozen sections should be used to assess margins is discussed, and the relation of margin positivity to progression following radical prostatectomy is evaluated.