Back to results

Positive margins is the term used to describe any evidence of cancer cells at the edge of the removed prostate tissue. This would present a risk of some tumour cells remaining in the surgical field and therefore a threat of the cancer returning. In a traditional radical prostatectomy, a significant amount of the nerves and tissues adjacent to the prostate are removed and the risk of positive margins has tended to be lower. A nerve-sparing procedure demands greater technical skill to preserve the adjacent nerves but ensure all malignant cells are removed.