Macroscopy of specimens from the genitourinary system

J Clin Pathol. 2024 Feb 19;77(3):177-183. doi: 10.1136/jcp-2023-208831.ABSTRACTMacroscopic specimen examination is often critical for accurate histopathology reporting but has generally received insufficient attention and may be delegated to inexperienced staff with limited guidance and supervision. This review discusses issues around macroscopic examination of some common urological specimens; highlighting findings that are critical for patient management and others that are clinically irrelevant. Macroscopic findings are of limited value in completely submitted radical prostatectomy specimens but may be critical in orchidectomy specimens where identification of focal non-seminomatous components can significantly impact patient management. The maximum tumour dimension is often an important prognostic indicator, but specimen dimensions are generally of little clinical utility. Specimens should be carefully examined and judiciously sampled to identify clinically important focal abnormalities such as sarcomatoid change in a renal cell carcinoma and a minor non-seminomatous component in a predominant testicular seminoma. Meticulous macroscopic examination is key as less than 0.2% of the specimen (or macroscopically abnormal area) would be histologically examined even if the entire specimen/abnormal area is submitted for microscopic examination. Retroperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection specimens for testicular cancer must be handled very differently from other lymph nodal blo...
Source: Clinical Prostate Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research